Magnetic Field

due to
a Current-
Carrying Wire

Biot-Savart
Law
AP Physics C
Mrs. Coyle
Hans Christian Oersted, 1820
Magnetic fields are caused by currents.
Hans Christian Oersted in 1820s showed
that a current carrying wire deflects a
compass.
No Current in the Wire
Current in the Wire
Right Hand Curl Rule


Magnetic Fields of Long Current-Carrying
Wires

B =
o
I
2t r
I = current through the wire (Amps)
r = distance from the wire (m)

o
= permeability of free space
= 4t x 10
-7
T m / A
B = magnetic field strength (Tesla)



I
Magnetic Field of a Current
Carrying Wire
http://www.walter-
fendt.de/ph14e/mfwire.htm

What if the current-carrying wire is not
straight? Use the Biot-Savart Law:

2
0

4
r
r ds
B

= I d
t

Note:
dB is perpendicular to ds and r

Assume a small segment of
wire ds causing a field dB:
Biot-Savart Law allows us to calculate
the Magnetic Field Vector
To find the total field, sum up the contributions
from all the current elements I ds



The integral is over the entire current distribution

2
4

I
o
d
r

=
}
s r
B

=
2
0

4
i
i i
I
r
r ds
B
t

Note on Biot-Savart Law

The law is also valid for a current consisting
of charges flowing through space

ds represents the length of a small segment
of space in which the charges flow.

Example: electron beam in a TV set
Comparison of Magnetic to Electric Field
Magnetic Field
B proportional to r
2
Vector

Perpendicular to F
B
, ds, r
Magnetic field lines have
no beginning and no end;
they form continuous
circles

Biot-Savart Law
Amperes Law (where
there is symmetry

Electric Field
E proportional to r
2

Vector
Same direction as F
E
Electric field lines begin
on positive charges and
end on negative charges


Coulombs Law
Gausss Law (where
there is symmetry)


Derivation of B for a Long, Straight
Current-Carrying Wire
Integrating over all the
current elements gives
( )
2
1
1 2

4
4
I
sin
I
cos cos

B d
a

a
=
=
}
( )
sin

d dx = s r k
If the conductor is an infinitely long,
straight wire, u
1
= 0 and u
2
= t
The field becomes:
2
I
o

B
a
=
a
B for a Curved Wire Segment
Find the field at point O
due to the wire segment
AACC:
B=0 due to AA and CC
Due to the circular arc:





u=s/R, will be in radians
4
I
o

B
R
=
2
4

I
o
d
r

=
}
s r
B
B at the Center of a Circular Loop of Wire
Consider the previous
result, with u = 2t

I I
I
= =
=
2
4 4
2
o o
o

B
R R

B
R
Note
The overall shape of the magnetic field of
the circular loop is similar to the magnetic
field of a bar magnet.
B along the axis of a Circular Current Loop
Find B at point P

( )
2
3
2 2 2
2
I
o
x
R
B
x R
=
+
2
4

I
o
d
r

=
}
s r
B
If x=0, B same as at center of a loop
If x is at a very large distance away
from the loop.
x>>R:
( )
2 2
3 3
2 2 2 2
2
I I
o o
x
R R
B
x
x R
= =
+
Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel
Conductors
The field B
2
due to
the current in wire 2
exerts a force on
wire 1 of
F
1
= I
1
B
2

1 2
1
2
I I
o

F
a
=
I
=
2
2
2
o

B
a
Magnetic Field at Center of a Solenoid
B =
o
NI
L
N: Number of
turns
L: Length


n=N/L
------------------------L----------------
Direction of Force Between Two
Parallel Conductors

If the currents are in the:

same direction the wires attract each other.

opposite directions the wires repel each other.
Magnetic Force Between Two
Parallel Conductors, F
B

Force per unit length:

1 2
2
I I
B o
F
a
=
Definition of the Ampere
When the magnitude of the force per unit
length between two long parallel wires that
carry identical currents and are separated
by 1 m is 2 x 10
-7
N/m, the current in each
wire is defined to be 1 A
Definition of the Coulomb
The SI unit of charge, the coulomb, is
defined in terms of the ampere
When a conductor carries a steady current
of 1 A, the quantity of charge that flows
through a cross section of the conductor in
1 s is 1 C
Biot-Savart Law: Field produced by current
carrying wires


Distance a from long straight wire

Centre of a wire loop radius R

Centre of a tight Wire Coil with N turns

Force between two wires




a
I I
l
F
t

2
2 1 0
=
a
I
B
t

2
0
=
R
I
B
2
0

=
R
NI
B
2
0

=
2
0

4
r
r ds
B

= I d
t