Phy213: General Physics III

Chapter 29 Worksheet

6/5/2015
1

Biot-Savart Law
1.
A straight wire horizontal wire, L=0.3 m, has a 1.5 A current running through it.
i = 1.5 A

ds
y

y = .10 m

r
x

.P

L/2

a.

Using the Biot-Savart Law, derive the equation for the magnetic field vector produced by the
wire at an arbitrary point P, below the wire and halfway between the ends.

Ans.

r i dsr rr
dB= o
4 r 3
L
L
r
r i 2 dsr rr i 2 dx
o
o
B= dB=
=
sin k
3
2

4 -L r
4 -L r
2

L
2

r iy
dx
B= o
4 -L y2+x2
2

b.

oi
x

3 k =
2
4 y y2+x2

2
i
k -L = o
4
2
L

1
2

L
y y2 +
4

1
2

Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field vector at point P=0.1 m below
the wire.

Ans.

r
B= o
4

1.5A 0.3m

0.1m 0.1m

0.3m
2

c.

L/2

1
2

k = 2.50x10-6 T k

Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field produced by the wire at a point
0.01 m to the left of point P.

Ans.

oiL
5
1
k -L =
k

1
1 +
1
2
2
2
2
2
24 y
6

5L
L
2
y2+

y +

6
6

r (1.5A)(0.3m)

5
1
-6

B= o
T k

1 +
1 k = 2.07x10
2 2
2 2
24 (0.1m)

1.5m
0.3m

2
(0.1m)2+

(0.1m) +

6
6

r
i
x
B= o
2
4 y y +x2

5L
6

Phy213: General Physics III

Chapter 29 Worksheet

d.

6/5/2015
2

Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at point P for a wire of infinite
length.

Ans.

r
i
x
B= o
4 y y2+x2

1
2

oi
k = 3.0x10-6 T k
2 y

2.

A quarter circle wire arc (90o), with radius of curvature R=0.1 m, has a 2.0 A current
running through it.

a.

Using the Biot-Savart Law, determine the equation for magnetic field vector
produced by the arc at point P, located at the center of curvature.

Ans.

b.

.P

r
i
B= - o k = -3.1x10-6 T k
4 R

i = 2.0 A

Derive the magnetic field vector at the center of a circular loop, of

radius R.

Ans.
d.

Calculate the magnetic field vector produced by the arc at point P.

Ans.
c.

r i dsr rr
oi R 2d
i d
dB= o
=k=- o
k
3
3
4 r
4 R
4 R

r
r
oi
i
B= dB=d k = - o k

4 R 0
4 R

i = 2.0 A

r
r
i 2
i
B= dB=- o d k = - o k
4 R 0
2R

.
P

Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the

center of a circular loop, where R=0.1 m.

Ans.

r
i
B= - o k = -1.26x10-7 T k
2R

3.

Consider the current loop shown below, consisting of 2 concentric 90 o arc segments of radii,
R1 and R2, connected by 2 segments that are parallel to the center of curvature for the arcs.
The current flowing through the loop is 1.0 A, counterclockwise.

a.

Using the Biot-Savart Law, determine the equations for the

magnetic field vectors produced by each segment of the loop
arc at point P, located at the center of curvature for both arc
segments.

Ans.

Each arc produces an oppositely directed B-field:

r
r
i
oi
B1= - o
k and B2=
k
4 R 1
4 R 2

b.

Calculate the total magnetic field vector at point P, where

R1=0.1 m and R2= 0.15 m.

Ans.

Each arc produces an oppositely directed B-field:

i = 1.0 A

R2

R1
.P

Phy213: General Physics III

Chapter 29 Worksheet

6/5/2015
3

r r r i 1
1
B= B1+B2= o - + k = -5.25x10-7 T k
4 R1 R 2
c.

Determine the net magnetic force vector exerted on the outer arc segment of the loop due
to the other segments.

Amperes Law
4. An infinitely long horizontal wire has a 2A current running through it.
i=2A
y
r = 1.0 m

.P
a.
Ans.

b.

Using Amperes Law, determine the magnitude and direction of magnetic field
produced by the wire at a point 1 m below the wire?
Apply a circular Amperean loop centered on the wire:

r r
r
B

d
l
=
B
(2 r) = oienc

r
r
i
B = o enc = -4.01x10-7 T B = -4.01x10-7 T k
2 r
r
An electron travels with a velocity: v = 2x103 ms j at point P. Determine the magnetic
force vector exerted on the electron at point P.

Ans.
c.

Ans.

r
r r
FB = ev B = evB i = 1.28x10-22N i

A second wire oriented parallel to wire 1 above, with a current of 1 A (in the same
direction), is then placed 1.0 meter directly below the first wire. What is the magnetic
field vector exactly halfway between the wires?
The 2 B-fields are additive:

r
r r

B = B1+B2 = - o i1+i2 k = -1.20x10-6 T k

2 r
d.
Ans.
e.

What is the magnetic force acting on a 1 m segment of the 2nd wire?

r
r r
FB = i2L 2 B1 = -i2L 2B1j = -4.01x10-7N j

Derive the equation for the magnetic field vector between the wires in the plane of the
wires.

Phy213: General Physics III

Chapter 29 Worksheet

6/5/2015
4

5. Two infinitely long horizontal wires separated by 0.01 m have a current running through them
(in opposite directions).
i1 = 2 A
r = 0.01 m
i2 = 1 A
d = 1.0 m

a. Using Amperes Law, determine the magnitude and direction of magnetic field produced
by both wires at a point 1 m below the lowest wire.
Ans.

Since r<<d, apply a circular Amperean loop centered halfway between the wires:

r r
r
B

d
l
=
B
(2 r) = oienc =o i1-i2

r
r
i -i
B = o 1 2 = 2.01x10-7 T B = -2.01x10-7 T k
2 r

b. Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field produced by both wires at a
point halfway between the two wires in (b).
Ans.

Apply a circular Amperean loop around each wire separately:

r
r
B1 (2 r) = oi1 B1 = 8.02x10-5 T
r
r
B2 (2 r) = oi2 B2 = 4.01x10-5T
r
r r
r
r
Bnet = B1+B2 = - B1 B2 k = -1.203x10-4 T k

c. What is the magnetic force vector exerted by wire 1 on wire 2?

Ans.

r
r
r r
FB
oi1
N
FB = i2L 2 B1 = -i2L 2
j
= -6.37x10-6 m
j

r
L

d. If the separation between the wires were 1 m, determine the magnitude and direction of
magnetic field produced by both wires at a point 1 m below the lowest wire.
Ans.

Apply a circular Amperean loop around each wire separately:

r
r
i
B1 (4 d) = oi1 B1 = o 1
4 d
r
r
i
B2 (2 d) = oi2 B2 = o 2
2 d
r
r r
r
r
i
i
Bnet = B1+B2 = B1 - B2 k = o 1 - o 2 k = 0k
4 d 2 d

Phy213: General Physics III

Chapter 29 Worksheet

6/5/2015
5

e. The current in wire 2 is increased to 2A. What is the magnetic force vector exerted by
wire 2 on wire 1?

r
r
r r
FB
oi2
N
FB = i1L1 B2 = i1L1
j
= 1.27x10-5 m
j

r
L

Ans.

6. Consider a current carrying coil (i=0.5 A, counter-clockwise as viewed looking down), where
the number of coils is 20 and the radius is 5.0 cm.
a. Calculate the magnitude of the magnetic moment
for the coil.
Ans.

r
o = NiA j = 7.85x10-2 A m2 j
i

b. Derive the magnetic field B along the central axis

(i.e. in the z direction) of the coil.

Ans.

r i dsr rr
oi r2d
oi r 2d R
o

dB=
=
sin k =
k
4 r 3
4 r 3
4 r 3 r
2
r
r
NoiR
NoiR
B= dB=d k =
k
2
2
4 z +R 0
2 z2+R 2

c. What is the magnetic field at z=20 cm above the coil?

Ans.

r
B=

NoiR
k = 7.87x10-7 T k
2
2
2 z +R

d. What is the magnetic field vector at z=40 cm above the coil?

Ans.

r
B=

NoiR
k = 1.96x10-7 T k
2
2
2 z +R

e. What is the magnetic field vector at z=80 cm above the coil?

Ans.

r
B=

NoiR
k = 4.90x10-8 T k
2
2
2 z +R

f. At what z distance does the magnetic field become effectively independent of the radius,
i.e. the magnetic field can be calculated to within 3% when the radius is ignored?
Ans.

r
BR=0
=
r
BR 0
z2

NoiR
2z2
NoiR
2 z2+R 2

1
z2
1
2
z +R 2

z2+R 2
0.97
z2

0.97 2
0.97
R z2
R = 5.9R or 28.4 cm
1-0.97
1-0.97