Magnetic Field Along the

Axis of a Solenoid

AP Physics C
Montwood High School
R. Casao
 Consider a solenoid
of length L, radius
R, turns N, carrying
current I.
We will determine
an equation for the
magnetic field B at
an axial point P
inside the solenoid.
 Consider the solenoid as a distribution of
current loops.
The magnetic field for any one loop is:
o I R 2
Bx

2 x R2 2
3
2

The net magnetic field in the solenoid is the

sum of the magnetic fields of all the loops.
 Divide the length of the solenoid into small
elements of length dx.
The number of turns in a length dx is:
dN N N
dN = dx
dx L L
The amount of current in an element of length dx is:
di N I N I
= di =
dx
dx l l
The total current in a length dx is: N
I dx
L
 The magnetic field contribution dB at point P due
to each element dx carrying current di is:

2
o
R
di
dB
x R
3
2 2 2
2

o R 2
N
dB I dx

2 x R 2 2
3
2 L
 For each element of length dx along the length of
the solenoid, the distance x and the angle
change.
The value of R remains constant.
Express x in terms of the angle and find dx.

x
tan x R tan
R
dx d(R tan ) R
d(tan )
sec
dx R d2
 Substitute:
o R 2 N
dB I R sec 2 d

2 R tan
2
R 2
3
2 L

o R I N sec d
3 2
dB

2 R tan R
2 2 2
3
2
L
o R I N sec d
3 2
dB

2 R (tan 1)
2 2
3
2
L
 o R I N sec d
3 2
dB
tan 1
3 3
2 R 2 2 2 2
L
tan 1 sec
2 2

o R I N sec d
3 2
dB
2 R sec
2 3 2
3
2
L
o R I N sec d
3 2
dB
2 R 6
sec
2 3
L
o R I N sec d
3 2
dB
2 R sec L
3 6
 o R I N sec d
3 2
dB
2 R sec L
3 6

o I N sec d
2
dB
2 sec L
3

o I N d
dB
2 sec L
o I N cos d
dB
2L
 Integrate from 1 to 2:
2 o I N cos d
2
1 dB 1 2L
o I N 2
B cos d
2L 1

o I N
sin
2
B
2L 1

o I N
B sin 2 sin 1
2L
 If point P is at the midpoint of the solenoid and if
the solenoid is long in comparison to the radius
R, then 1 = -90 and 2 = 90. The result is the
equation for the magnetic field at the center of a
solenoid.
o I N
B sin 90 sin 90
2L
o I N o I N
B 1 1 2
2L 2L
o I N
B
L
 If point P is a point at the end of a long solenoid
towards the bottom, then 1 = 0 and 2 = 90.
The answer shows that the magnetic field at the
end of a solenoid approaches the value at the
center of the solenoid.
o I N
B sin 90 sin 0
2L
o I N o I N
B 1 0 1
2L 2L
o I N
B
2L
 Graph of magnetic field B
at axial points vs. distance
x for a solenoid.