AP Physics C Chapter 29 The Magnetic Field Created by a Current

So far our study of the magnetic field has centered on the effect of an existing field B on a moving charge qv , and on a current segment idl . We now turn our attention to the cause of the magnetic field. The same things that feel the effects of magnetic fields are the things that cause them: moving charges and current segments. Although individual moving charges cause magnetic fields, in practice its difficult to calculate the fields they cause. Instead, well see how to calculate the field due to current segments.
There are two methods of calculating the magnetic field due to currents. The first is analogous to using Coulombs law to find the electric field; calculate the contribution dE kdq from each point charge dq (by using dE = 2 ) and integrate to find the field. This r brute force approach always works, but sometimes its hardto evaluate the integral. The second method is analogous to using Gauss law to find E ; it only works if theres enough symmetry, but the integrals are much easier. The Biot-Savart Law The analog of Coulombs Law for magnetism is the Biot-Savart Law. Just as Coulombs Law says that the contribution dE is directly proportional to the source (dq) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance r, the Biot-Savart law says that the contribution dB is directly proportional to the source (the current segment) and inversely proportional to the square of the distance r. The difference is that the current segment has a direction associated with it, whereas the charge dq does not. The contribution dB depends on the direction of the current segment as well as its distance away. Heres the how the Biot-Savart law is stated: Given a current segment ids , which is part of a long wire carrying a current i, we wish to find the contribution to the magnetic field at an arbitrary point P. Let the vector r be the position vector of the point P with respect to the current segment. Let be the angle between ids and r . Then
dB ids sin r2

The magnitude of dB is zero when the current segment points directly at or away from point P, and is a maximum when the current segment is perpendicular to the vector r .

 The direction of dB is given by the right-hand rule: Wrap the fingers of your right hand around the wire with your thumb in the direction of the current. Your fingers show the direction of the magnetic field lines; in this case, the contribution dB to the field at P points into the page.

0 , where 0 has the 4 numerical value 4 10 7 exactly. The numerical value of the constant in the Biot-Savart law is therefore 10 7 exactly. The law is written:
The proportionality constant in the Biot-Savart law is written as
dB =

0 ids sin 4 r 2

Where are the SI units of 0 ?

Examples 1. An infinitely long wire carries a current I as shown to the right. Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field B at point P, a distance R from the wire. Youll find that its easier to express the integral in terms of and d . You should memorize this result.

2. Use the method of Example 1 above to determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field B at point P, at the center of the square loop of side L carrying a clockwise current i.

3. A circular loop of wire of radius R carries a current i as shown to the right. Point P is at a distance y from the center of the loop on its axis. Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field B at P due to the loop. By setting y = 0 in the expression you derive, find the strength of the field at the center of the loop.

Amperes Law The second method of calculating the magnetic field due to currents is Ampere's Law, which is analogous to Gauss' Law for finding electric field. In both cases, the general idea is to enclose the source of the field, and evaluate an integral over the resulting "boundary." The integral over the boundary is proportional to the enclosed source. In Gauss Law, the boundary is a Gaussian surface, enclosing the net charge inside qin , and we evaluate the surface integral E dA , which is proportional to qin .

Note that a closed surface is a two-dimensional object (characterized by its area) curved into a third dimension to enclose a point charge, which is essentially zerodimensional. In Amperes Law, the boundary is a loop, called an Amperian loop, which encloses a net current inside iin . A loop is a line (which is one-dimensional) curved into a second dimension to enclose (encircle) a current, which is essentially one B dimensional. We evaluate the line integral ds around the closed Amperian loop, which is proportional to iin .

The proportionality constant in Amperes Law is the 0 from the Biot-Savart Law, written on the right side (as opposed to Gauss Law, where 0 is written on the left): Amperes Law: Some Notes About Amperes Law: 1. As with Gauss' Law, you choose the Amperian loop to reflect the symmetry of the field and pass through the point at which you want to find the field. Unlike Gauss' Law, the types of symmetry are not so easy to classify. 2. To evaluate the integral, you divide the loop into differential segments ds, each of which is associated with a particular field vector B . You usually choose the B Amperian loop to be parallel to (  in which case B ds = Bds ) or perpendicular to B (in which case B ds = 0 ). 3. iin represents the net current threading through the Amperian loop. If currents go through the loop in both directions, some will add and some will subtract. Since the direction of the current is arbitrary, we have to have a rule to assign positive and negative signs. It is, of course, another right-hand rule: Curl the fingers of your right

B ds = i

0 in

hand around the Amperian loop in the direction you are integrating. Your thumb points in the direction of positive current through the loop. Examples 1. Four wires carry currents perpendicular to the page as shown to the right. A) For the Amperian loop shown, what is iin , if the loop is integrated clockwise? Counterclockwise?

B) What is the value of the integral Counterclockwise?

B ds

around the loop, integrated clockwise?

B 2. The drawing to the right shows a region of uniform magnetic field to the right above a pair of dotted lines, and another region of uniform B field to the left below the dotted lines. It is unknown what is between the dotted lines.
A) Three Amperian loops are shown, each a square of side L. For each of the loops, calculate the value of the integral B ds clockwise around the loop.

B) What must exist between the dotted lines?

3. Use Amperes Law to find the magnetic field at point P, at distance R from a long straight line wire carrying a current i. This is the same problem you solved earlier using the BiotSavart law. Recall that according to experimental evidence (using a compass), the field lines around a wire are circles concentric with the wire.

4. A solid wire of radius R carries current density J uniformly distributed over the interior. A) Use Amperes Law to find the magnitude of B at points both inside (r < R) and outside (r > R) the wire.

B) The set of axes below, sketch a graph of B vs. r, indicating significant points on the B axis.

5. A hollow wire of radius R carries a total current i uniformly distributed over its surface. A) UseAmperes Law to find the magnitude of B at points both inside (r < R) and outside (r > R) the wire.

B) The set of axes below, sketch a graph of B vs. r, indicating significant points on the B axis.

6. The figure to the right shows a cross section of an infinite conducting sheet in the x-z plane with a current unit length in the xdirection . The current is flowing in the positive z-direction, and points P1 and P2 are a distance a above and below the sheet, respectively. Sections dxL and dx R of the sheet are equidistant from points P1 and P2 . A) Based on the Biot-Savart Law, indicate and label the contribution dBL to the magnetic field at the points P1 and P2 due to section dxL .

B) Indicate and label the contribution dBR to the magnetic field at points P1 and P2 due to section dx R .

C) Indicate and label the net magnetic field B1 and B2 at points P1 and P2 .

D) Use Amperes Law and symmetry arguments to find the magnitudes of B1 and B2

E) On the axes provided, sketch a graph of the B magnitude of the magnetic field above and below thesheet as a function of y. Let the direction of the field at point P1 be positive, and indicate significant values on the B axis.

A second identical infinite conducting sheet is placed a distance a below P2 , with current per unit length flowing in the direction of the negative z-direction, as shown. F) Use symmetry arguments to find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic fields B1 and B2 .

7. A solenoid is a long coil of wire wrapped in the shape of a cylinder. In the figure to the right, the solenoid is split in half showing current coming out of the page at the top and going into the page at the bottom. Consider two of the loops of the solenoid as shown below, right. A) Indicate the direction of the magnetic field at points P1 and P2 due to both loops.

B) How do the strengths of the fields at P1 and P2 compare?

An ideal solenoid is one whose length is large compared to R. In this case, the field inside becomes highly uniform, and the field outside is comparatively negligible. C) Treat the solenoid above as ideal, and n turns per unit length. Choose an Amperian loop, and apply Amperes Law to find the field inside an ideal solenoid. You should memorize this result.