MAGNETIC FIELDS

THE MAGNETIC FIELD

FORCES ON MOVING CHARGES
THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF A
LONG, STRAIGHT WIRE
THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF A
LOOP OR COIL
THE MAGNETIC FIELD OF A
SOLENOID

Written by Dr. John K. Dayton

THE MAGNETIC FIELD:
The magnetic field is designated by the symbol B. The
N
source of all magnetic fields are moving electric
charges. Even the magnetic fields associated with
electromagnetic radiation have their source in moving
electric charge.

The SI unit for the magnetic field is the tesla, T. A

more common unit of magnetic field strength is the
gauss, G. Earths magnetic field at the surface is about
0.5 G.
104G = 1T S

The magnetic field is characterized by what we call a north and a south pole.
Similar poles repel and opposite poles attract. Outside of magnetic materials
magnetic field lines extend away from north poles and toward south poles.
However, magnetic field lines, unlike electric field lines, are continuous. Each
magnetic field line forms a complete loop. The simplest of all magnetic fields is the
magnetic dipole, like a bar magnet.. Magnetic monopoles, such as an isolated north
pole, do not exist.
THE FORCE ON A MOVING CHARGE IN A MAGNETIC
FIELD:
F = Force on moving charge
F = qv B
q = charge on particle / object

B sin
v = velocity of moving charge
F = nqv
B = magnetic field

v
= vector cross-product
B
F
I = angle between v and B

n = unit vector in correct direction
THE RIGHT-HAND RULE:
v
B
I
F

1. Use Right Hand

2. Point Fingers In Direction Of Current
3. Point Open Palm In direction Of Magnetic Field
4. Extended Thumb Is Direction Of Force On Charge
EXAMPLE: A proton traveling horizontally to the right with a
speed of 1.5x104 m/s encounters a uniform magnetic field of 0.55T
oriented 60o above the horizontal. What is the magnitude of the force
on the proton and what is its initial direction?

v B

+e

F = qvB sin = 1.6 1019 C 1.5 104 ms 0.55T sin(60o )

F = 1.14 1015 N

According to the right-hand-rule this force will be

directed outward from the diagram.
MOTION OF A CHARGED PARTICLE WHOSE VELOCITY IS
PERPENDICULAR TO B:
F = qvB sin 90o = qvB Using the right-hand-rule, can you
determine the sign of q in the diagram?
2
mv Click for the answer.
F= = qvB
r B
mv = qrB v
mv q, m
r=
qB
F
v = r
mr r
r=
qB
qB
= According to the vectors shown in the diagram, and
m the right-hand-rule, q must be a negative charge.
 view from above
Is the charge q of the moving
v
particle positive or negative? FB
B

q v B out of diagram

q is positive.
 B
v(perpendicular)

v B

q
EXAMPLE: An alpha particle, q = 6.4x10-19C and
m = 6.68x10-27 kg, is following a circular path of radius 0.5m in a
uniform magnetic field of 1.2 T. (a) What is the angular speed of
the alpha particle? (b) What is the linear speed of the alpha
particle?

=
qB
=
6.4 10 19
C 1.2T
m 6.68 10 27
kg
= 1.15 10 8 rad
s

v = r = 0.5m 1.15 10 8 rad

s
v = 5.75 107 m
s
FORCE ON A CURRENT-CARRYING WIRE:
B

wire
I

l
F = qvB sin
q = neAl v = v drift
F = neAv drift Bl sin
I = neAv drift
n = density of mobile
electrons in wire.
F = IBl sin
EXAMPLE: Calculate the net force on a wire of length 20m
and carrying a current of 12A through a magnetic field of 0.5
Gauss directed 70o to the wire.

B
12A
20m

F = IlB sin( )
F = 12 A 20m 0.5 104 T sin(70o )
F = 1.13 102 N
According to the right-hand-rule, this force
will be directed outward from the diagram.
TORQUE ON A CURRENT-CARRYING LOOP IN A
MAGNETIC FIELD:
F m
a

B
I
F = NIaB b

= 2 F 2 sin = Fbsin
b
= I F

= NIaBbsin = NIABsin
= =
mB
= 2
NIA = m I I

= mBsin =
mB
I
EXAMPLE: A coil of wire composed of 100 turns of radius 6cm
carries a current of 5A. It is in a uniform magnetic field 0f 0.65T
oriented 75o to the plane of the coil. (a) What is the magnetic
moment of the coil? (b) What is the torque on the coil?

m = NIA = NI r 2
m = 100 5 A .06m
2

m = 5.65 A m 2
= mB sin
= 5.65 A m2 0.65T sin 15o
= 0.95 N m is the angle between B
and m. = 90o 75o
AMPERES LAW:

Bl cos = I o

I = the current that is encircled by a closed path.

l = small piece of the closed path.

B = local magnetic field at l

= angle between B and direction of l

Sum is over all l comprising the closed path

MAGNETIC FIELD OF A LONG, STRAIGHT WIRE:
WIRE

B outward B inward

Right-Hand Rule:
1-fingers in direction of I
2-Palm toward field point
I 3-Thumb points in
direction of B

o I 7 T m
B= o = 4 10
2 r A
SUPERPOSITION OF MAGNETIC FIELDS:

BP = BP ,1 BP ,2 BP ,3 ... Calculate the magnetic field mid
way between the two wires.
d = 5cm
I1 = 3A BP = BP ,2 BP ,1

BP ,1 =
4 10 7 T m
A 3 A
2 0.025m
P
BP ,1 = 1.6 10 5 T
2.5cm

BP ,2 =
4 10 7 T m
A 4 A
2 0.025m
I2 = 4A
BP ,2 = 2.1 10 5 T
B p ,1 is inward
BP = 2.1 10 5 T 1.6 10 5 T
B p,2 is outward
BP = 5.0 10 6 T
EXAMPLE: The central conducting wire of a coaxial cable carries
a current of 3A upward. The outer, cylindrical conducting wire of
radius 3mm carries a uniformly distributed current of 5A downward.
What are the magnetic field strengths at 2mm from the center and
5cm from the center of this wire?

B1 =
0 I enclosed
=
4 10 7 Tm
A 3 A
2 r1 2 .002m
B1 = 3.00 104 T Only the net enclosed
current is used. Ienc=5A-
B2 =
0 I enclosed
=
4 10 A 2 A
7 Tm
3A. The net current for B1
2 r2 2 .05m is upward and the net
current for B2 is
B2 = 8.00 106 T downward so these two
fields are oriented in
opposite directions.
MAGNETIC FORCE BETWEEN PARALLEL WIRES:
r
o I1
Bof 1 at 2 =
2r
I1 I2 F2,1 = I 2 Bof 1 at 2l
o I1 I 2 l
F2,1
l F2,1 =
2r
The force between parallel wires is
attractive if the currents are in the
same direction.
 EXAMPLE: A long straight, vertical wire carries a current of 5A
upward. Near the wire is a rectangular loop of wire carrying a
current of 3A. The loop has dimensions 5cm by 10cm and is
positioned so that its long side is parallel to the long wire at a
distance of 5cm with its current also directed upward. What is the
net force on the loop?
The magnetic field produced by the wire in
the plane of the loop is directed inward, into
wire the diagram. The strength of this field
I2=3A decreases as you move further from the wire.
3 The force on side 1 is downward and the
5cm
force on side 3 is upward. Use the right-
I1=5A hand-rule to confirm this. These forces are
2 4 10cm of equal magnitudes so cancel each other
F2 F4
out. The force on side 2 is toward the wire
and the force on side 4 is away from the
1 loop wire. These are also in opposite directions
but the force on side 2 is stronger because it
5cm
B from the wire is inward is closer to the wire.
on this side of the wire
Solution continues on next slide.
continued from previous slide

o I1 I 2l o I1I 2l
Fnet =F2 F4 =
2 r2 2 r4

=
4 10 7 Tm
A 5 A 3 A.1m 1

1
Fnet
2 .05 m .10 m
Fnet = 3.00 106 N

Fnet is directed toward the wire.

THE BIOT-SAVART LAW:

P
0 Il sin
B = n
I 4 r 2
r
B = B
l
MAGNETIC FIELD OF A LOOP OR COIL:
I

r
a B

By
x x-axis
P Bx

oa2 I
B= 3
2r
 a
B = B B = Bx = B cos = B
r
o I l sin o I
B = = l
4r 2
4r 2

o I a Ia Ia a 2
I
B = l = o
3
l = o
3
2a = o

4r r 4r 4r r
2 3

oa NI
2
If there are N turns of wire in the coil, then: B = 3
2r
oa NI 2

If x>>a, then: B = 3
2x
MAGNETIC FIELD AT THE CENTER OF A LOOP OR COIL:
I

o a 2 NI
B=
a 2r 3
r=a
x-axis
o NI
P B=
2a

a = radius
 I

B
Palm toward center
I
EXAMPLE: Calculate the magnetic field strength at the center
of a coil of radius 20cm, 200 turn of wire, and carrying a current
of 2.5A.

B=
o NI
=
4 10 A 200 2.5 A
7 Tm

2a 2 .2m
B = 0.0016T
MAGNETIC FIELD OF A SOLENOID:

I
o NI
B= = o nI
l
N = total number of turn
of wire

n = number of turns of
wire per unit length,
n = N/l
I
I
1 o NI = B cos l
o NI = B1 cos l B2 cos l
1 2

B3 cos l B4 cos l
2 3 4
4 1 = = 90o , 4 = 0o , B2 0
o NI = B4 cos l = B l = Bl
4
I o NI
3 B= = o nI
l
EXAMPLE: A solenoid is to be made so that a magnetic field of
0.5T is at its center. If the solenoid is to be 10cm in length and
wrapped with wire carrying a current of 3A, how many turns of
wire are required?

B=
o NI
N=
Bl
=
0.5T 0.1m
l o I 4 107 TmA 3 A
N = 13263 turns
End Of Presentation