Amperes Law

Here it is in words: the line integral of the magnetic field

around any closed path is a constant times the current
passing through the area enclosed by the path.
In equation form

m
I
0
enc

The constant m0 is called the magnetic permeability of

free space: m0=4p10-7 Tm/A.

Amperes Law: Dramatis Personae

m
I
0
enc

The circle through the integral sign means we must pick

a closed path.
B is the magnetic field at points along this path.
dl is a small length that points tangent to the path.
I must pass through the area enclosed by the path. We
define I to be positive if it points in the direction of our
right thumb if we curl our right hand fingers around the
path direction.
Amperes Law is always true for static fields, it is only
useful if we can find a path where B is constant and B
and dl are either parallel or perpendicular.

Enclosed current
What is (1/m0)the line integral of B around the loop
shown below?
A. -6A.
B. 0A.
C. 6A.
D. 12 A.
6A
6A
12A

Example: Field by single wire

We choose for our Amperian loop a circle of radius r.
From our discussion previous, B and dl will be parallel on
this loop.
By symmetry, B will be constant on the loop, that is,
B=B(r).
The left hand side of Amperes Law then becomes:

B d B(r )d B(r ) d 2prB(r )

The right hand side is m0I The result is then B(r)=m0I/2pr,

with the direction given by RHR#3.

Example: B inside of a wire

Again, the right Amperian loop is a circle, and the lefthand side of Amperes law will be 2prB(r).
If the current density J is constant across the wire, then
we can write J=I/pR2, where R is the radius of the wire.
Then Ienc=pr2J=Ir2/R2.
Therefore, B(r)=m0Ir/2pR2.
B=0 at r=0. It then grows to its maximum value of
m0I/2pR at the radius of the wire, and then subsequently
starts to fall as 1/r.

Two sheets of current

Bu
Bm
Bb

If we call Bt, Bm, Bb the fields above, in the middle, and

below the planes, respective, Amperes law tells us that
Bu+Bb=0, -Bu-Bm=-m0nI, and Bm+Bb=m0nI.
Appealing to superposition arguments, the field should
be big in between the planes and small above or below.
In the limt of infinite planes, Bu=Bd=0, and Bm=nm0I,

A toroidal field

Using the Amperian loops shown, we find B0 outside

the toroid, and B=m0NI/2pr inside the toroid, where N is
the total number of turns (not the turns/length) and r is
measured from the center of the toroid.
A toroid conveniently produces a slowly changing field
that is confined to a very specific region of space.

Toroid field direction

A.
B.
C.
D.

Suppose current exits the toroid

through the top wire. Which way
does B point inside the toroid? The
same procedures for solenoids work
on toroids.
Clockwise around the toroid.
Radially outward from center of the
toroid.
Counterclockwise around the toroid.
Radially inwards towards the center
of the toroid.

ITER: the international thermal experimental

reactor (for hydrogen-deuterium fusion)

Two inductance calculations

Assume a rectangular toroid, that is, one with
rectangular loops, with the loop height h and the loop
width running betwwen an inner radius a and outer
radius B.
Since B varies with r, the flux takes a little more work
b N 0 I
N 0 hI
than BA:
b

B N

a 2r

hdr

ln

Then our recipe to find inductance is that it is the thing

that multiplies I to yield the flux. So for a toroid:

N 2 0 h
2

ln

b
a

Inductance of a coaxial cable

Lets suppose our cable has an inner conductor of radius
a and surrounded by an outer conductor of radius b.
Further suppose that the inner and outer conductors
carry equal current I.
Amperes law tells us that for a<r<b, B=m0I/2pr.
But how do you turn this into flux, flux through what?
An indirect method is easier. L also enters into the
magnetic energy and energy density formulas: UB=LI2/2.
The B-field enters into the magnetic energy density
formula: uB=B2/2m0.

Inductance of a coaxial cable (continued)

If we integrate the energy density over the volume
between the two conductors, we can relate this to L.
(Well neglect the B-fields within the conductors).
Well have you work this out in studio:
2

I
0
uB B 1

2 0
2 0
8 2 r 2
b I2
2
0 I 2
0
b
LI
UB
2rdr
ln a
2
2
4
2
a 8 r
0
L
ln b
a
2
2

0I
2r