Semester II, 2015-16

Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur

PHY103A: Lecture # 19
(Text Book: Intro to Electrodynamics by Griffiths, 3rd Ed.)

Anand Kumar Jha

Notes
Solution # 6 is posted online
Quiz # 1 (regraded) will be returned on Friday
Mid-sem: Feb 18, Thursday, 6-8 pm
Course coverage up to class on Friday (Feb 12)

Summary of Lecture # 18:

The divergence of a magnetic field is zero.
= 0
The Amperes Law
= 0

= 0 enc

Magnetic Vector Potential

= 0

Question/Clarification: 1

r3

r3
r3

It is correct !

r3

= + ()

Question/Clarification: 2 (from Lecture 17 & 18)

2

0
=
cos
4
1

0
=
sin2 + sin1
4
4

Vector Potential (From Lecture # 4):

If the divergence of a vector field is zero everywhere,( = 0), then:
(1) d is independent of surface.

(2) d = 0 for any closed surface.

This is because of the divergence theorem

(3) is the curl of a vector function: =

This is because divergence of a curl is always zero = 0

The vector potential is not unique. A gradient of a scalar

function can be added to without affecting the curl, since the curl
of a gradient is zero.

Magnetic Vector Potential

= 0

is the Magnetic Vector Potential

A gradient of a scalar function can be added
to without affecting the magnetic field.

What happens to the Amperes Law ?

= 0

= 0

= 0

This is not in a very nice form.

Amperes law in terms of is better

But, we know that a can be added to without changing

Magnetic Vector Potential

= 0

Suppose we start with = 0

Re-define: = +

Then = 0

= 0

such that

= 0

= + = 0

= 0

One can always redefine the vector potential

such that its divergence is zero = 0

What is the requirement for = 0 ??

For a given the gradient should
be such that
= (Poissons Equation)
1
() =

r
4

if is localized, that is,

, if .

Recall:

(Poissons Equation)
=
0

1

V() =

r
40

if is a localized charge distribution,

that is, , if .
7

Magnetic Vector Potential

= 0

Suppose we start with = 0

Re-define: = +

Then = 0

= 0

such that

= 0

= + = 0

= 0

One can always redefine the vector potential

such that its divergence is zero = 0

(It is like a three component Poissons Equation)

So,

0 ()
() =

4
r

This is simpler than Biot-Savart Law.

But vector potential is a vector. So, it is not as
simple as electric potential which is a scalar.

0 ()
For surface current: () = 4 r
For line current:

() =

4
r

Summary:

= ; =

Magnetostatics
9

Magnetostatic Boundary Conditions (Consequences of the fundamental laws):

How does magnetic field () change across a boundary containing surface current ?

1. Normal component of is continuous

= 0
above

below

= 0

+0+0+0+0=0

above = below

2. Parallel component of is Discontinuous

= 0

= 0 enc

above below + 0 + 0 = 0

above below = 0

( above

below

+ ( above
)

below

)
0

above below = 0

10

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions (Consequences of the fundamental laws):

How does the magnetic potential () change across a boundary containing surface
current ?
1. Normal component of is continuous
= 0

= 0

above = below

2. Parallel component of is continuous

=

= = 0

above = below

11

Multipole Expansion of the Vector Potential

Using the cosine rule,
r2 = 2 + 2 2cos
2

r =

1+

1 1

=
r

=0

0
() =

4
r

2
cos

(cos)

0
1
=
+1
4

=0

(cos)

Source coordinates: ( , , )

Observation point coordinates: (, , )

Angle between and :

0 1
0 1
0 1

=
+
cos +

4
4 2
4 3

Monopole potential
( 1/ dependence)

Dipole potential
( 1/ 2 dependence)

3
1
cos
+
2
2

Quadrupole potential
( 1/ 3 dependence)

12

Multipole Expansion of the Vector Potential

Monopole potential
0 1
mono =
= 0
4

Dipole potential
dip

0 1
0 1

( )
=
cos =
2
2
4

Corollary of
Stokes Theorem:

0 1
=
( )
2
4

dip

Source coordinates: ( , , )

Observation point coordinates: (, , )

Angle between and :

0 1
0
0 1

=
=
=
4 2
4 2
4 2

Magnetic dipole moment

- is the vector area of the loop

- is the scalar area if the loop is flat

13

Magnetic field due to a magnetic dipole

dip

0
=
4 2

dip

0 sin

2
4

Take =

dip = dip
=

0 sin

2cos + sin
3
4

Source coordinates: ( , , )

Observation point coordinates: (, , )

Angle between and :

Recall
=

dip =

(2cos + sin )
3
40
14