Module 19:

Sources of Magnetic Fields:

Biot-Savart Law

Module 19: Outline

Magnetic Fields
Fields, Creating Fields:
Biot-Savart Law

Sources of Magnetic Fields

What creates fields?

Magnets more about this later
The Earth Hows
How s that work?
Moving charges!

Electric Field Of Point Charge

g
An electric charge produces an electric field:

r
E=

r
2
4 o r

: unit vector directed from q to P

5

Magnetic Field Of Moving Charge

Moving
g charge
g with velocity
yvp
produces magnetic
g
field:

r
r o q v x r
B=
2
4 r
r : unit vector directed

from q to P

0 = 4 10 T m/A
7

permeability of free space

6

Animation:
Field Generated by a Moving Charge

Link to
animation

Continuous
C
ti
charge
h
di
distributions:
t ib ti
^
Currents & Biot-Savart

From Charges to Currents?

r
r
dB dq v

[meter]
= [coulomb]
[ ]
[sec]
[coulomb]
=
[meter]
[sec]
r
r
dB Id s

r
v
dq

The Biot-Savart Law

Current element of length ds carrying current I
produces a magnetic field:

r
r 0 I d s r
dB =
2
4 r
(Link to Shockwave)
10

The Right-Hand
Right Hand Rule #2

z r =
11

Concept Questions:
B fields Generated by
y Currents

12

Concept Question: Biot-Savart

0

The magnetic field at P points towards the

1.
2
2.
3.
4.
5
5.
6.
7
7.

+x direction
+y direction
+z direction
-x direction
-y
y direction
-z direction
Fi ld iis zero ((so no di
Field
direction)
ti )
13

Concept
p Question: Bent Wire
The magnetic field at P is equal to the field of:

1.
2
2.
3.
4
4.

a semicircle
a semicircle
i i l plus
l the
h fifield
ld off a llong straight
i h wire
i
a semicircle minus the field of a long straight wire
none off the
th above
b
14

Demonstration:
Field Generated by
y Wire

15

Demonstration:
D
t ti
Jumping Wire

16

Magnetic Force on
Current-Carrying Wire

Current is moving
g charges,
g
and we know that
moving charges feel a force in a magnetic field
17

Magnetic Force on
Current-Carrying Wire

r
r r
FB = qv B
r
s
r
qv = q
t
r
q r
=
s = I s
t
r
r r
FB = I L B

)
18

Conceptt Question
C
Q
ti Question:
Q
ti
Parallel Current Carrying Wires

19

Concept
p Question: Parallel Wires
Consider two parallel current
carrying wires. With the currents
running
g in the same direction,, the
wires are
1.
2
2.
3.
4.
5.

attracted (likes attract?)

repelled
ll d (likes
(lik repel?)
l?)
pushed another direction
not pushed no net force
I don
dontt know
20

Demonstration:
D
t ti
Parallel & Anti-Parallel
Anti Parallel Currents

21

Can we understand why?

Whether they attract or repel can be seen in
the shape of the created B field

(Link to Animation)

(Link to Animation)
22

Concept Question: Current

Carrying Coils

The above coils have

1. p
parallel currents that attract
2. parallel currents that repel
3 opposite currents that attract
3.
4. opposite currents that repel
23

Force on Dipole from Dipole:

A ti P
Anti-Parallel
ll l Alignment
Ali
t
Link to
animation
i ti

24

Force on Dipole from Dipole:

Parallel Alignment
Link to
animation

25

Example : Coil of Radius R

Consider a coil with radius R and current I

I
I

P
I

Find the magnetic field B at the center (P)

26

Example : Coil of Radius R

Consider a coil with radius R and current I

I
I

P
I

1) Think about it:

Legs contribute nothing
I parallel to r
Ring makes field into page
2) Choose a ds
3) Pick your coordinates
4) Write Biot
Biot-Savart
Savart

27

Animation: Magnetic Field

Generated by a Current Loop
Link to
Shockwave

28

Example : Coil of Radius R

In the circular part of the coil

r
r
d s r | d s r | = ds
d

I
I

r
r
ds

Biot-Savart:
Biot
-Savart:

r
0 I d s r 0 I ds
dB =
=
2
4 r
4 r 2
0 I R d
=
4 R 2
0 I d
=
4 R
29

Example : Coil of Radius R

Consider a coil with radius R and current I

I
I

r
ds

0 I d
dB =
4 R
B = dB =

0 I d
4 R

0 I
0 I
=
d =
2 )
(

4 R 0
4 R
r 0 I
B=
i t page
into
2R

30

Example : Coil of Radius R

I
I

P
I

r 0 I
B=
into page
2R

Notes:
N
t
This is an EASY Biot-Savart problem:
No
N vectors
t
involved
i
l d
This is what I would expect on exam
31

Problem:
B Field
Fi ld from
f
Coil
C il off Radius
R di R
Consider
C
id a coilil made
d off semi-circles
i i l off radii
dii R and
d 2R
and carrying a current I
What is B at point P?

P
I
32

Problem:
B Field
Fi ld from
f
Coil
C il off Radius
R di R
C
Consider
id a coilil with
ith radius
di R and
d carrying
i a currentt I
What is B at point P? WARNING:
This is much
harder than
the previous
problem.
problem
Why??

33

MIT OpenCourseWare
http://ocw.mit.edu

8.02SC Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism

Fall 2010

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