FORCE IN MAGNETIC FIELDS

Day-1
Topic: Force in magnetic field
1. Find the force on a moving a charge in a magnetic field.
Ans: The electric force Fe on a stationary or moving electric charge Q in
an electric field is given by Coulomb's experimental law and is related
to the electric field intensity E as
=
This shows that if Q is positive, Fe and E have the same direction.
A magnetic field can exert force only on a moving charge. From
experiments, it is found that the magnetic force Fm experienced by a
charge Q moving with a velocity u in a magnetic field B is
=
This clearly shows that Fm is perpendicular to both u and B.
For a moving charge Q in the presence of both electric and magnetic
fields, the total force on the charge is given by
= +
= ( + )
This is known as the Lorentz force equation. It relates mechanical force
to electrical force. If the mass of the charged particle moving in E and B
fields is m, by Newton's second law of motion.
Home work questions:
1. Define magnetic field.
2.what is difference between electric and magnetic fields.
3. what are the properties of magnetic material.
Previous exam questions:
1.Define the force in magnetic field.set-1/May-2015/suply/r13/3M
2.Write the equation for force in magnetic field. set-4/Nov-
2013/reg/2M
3.Compare the force equations in electric and magnetic fields. set-
2/May-2016/suply/r13/3M.
Day 2
Topic: Force in current element
1. Find the force on a current element in magnetic field.
Ans: To determine the force on a current element I.dl of a current-
carrying conductor due to the magnetic field B, we modify eq. (8.2)
using the fact that for convection current:
= [8.5]
we recall the relationship between current elements:
= = [8.6]
Combining eqs. (8.5) and (8.6) yields
= =
Hence,
= [8.7]
This shows that an elemental charge dQ moving with velocity u
(thereby producing convection current element dQ u) is equivalent to a
conduction current element / dl. Thus the force on a current element /
dl in a magnetic field B is found from eq. (8.2) by merely replacing Qu
by / dl; that is,
= [8.8]
If the current / is through a closed path L or circuit, the force on the
circuit is given by
= [8.9]
The magnetic field produced by the current element Idl does not exert
force on the element itself just as a point charge does not exert force
on itself. The B field that exerts force on Idl must be due to another
element. In other words, the B field in eq. (8.8) or (8.9) is external to
the current element Idl. If instead of the line current element Idl, we
have surface current elements KdS or a volume current element Jdv, we
simply make use of eq. (8.6) so that eq. (8.8) becomes
= or =

=

 or

=

Home work questions:
1. What is the force equation on a current carrying element?
Previous exam questions:
1. A steady current of 10 A is established in a long straight hollow
aluminum conductor having inner and outer radius of 1.5 cm and
3 cm respectively. Find the value of B as function of radius.set-
4/dec-15/reg/8M.
2. Derive the expression for force on a current element placed in
magnetic field. set-3/reg-supl/Nov-14/r13/8M.
3. Deduce the expression for force on a current carrying conductor
placed in magnetic field. set-1/reg-supl/Nov-14/r13/8M.