Discussion Question 8B

P212, Week 8
The Magnetic Field due to Current Loops and Infinite Wires
y
In lecture 14, the B field of an infinite straight wire was presented: B
µ0 I 2 × 10−7 I
B= = . The derivation of this formula from the Biot-
2π r r
Savart law is given in Appendix A of the lecture notes. We won’t go a A
through it here, since you will soon learn a much easier way to obtain
the same result (Ampere’s Law!). Instead, let’s just use the formula,
and our knowledge of the direction of the magnetic field around a
x
wire. a
Four long parallel wires are located at the corners of a square of side a = 15 cm
a. Each wire carries a current I. The top two currents are directed I = 2.5 A
into the page, and the bottom two out of the page.

(a) Calculate the force per unit length exerted on the wire in the top-right corner by the
field of the other three. Remember to give both the magnitude and direction of this force.
One approach is to find the magnetic forces on the
top-right corner due to the other three corners and add #3
these three forces by components.
. #2
y
F1 y
#1 #1 #1

a B2 a a

#3
x
a #2 a
x

The diagram on the left shows the forces and fields on the top-right corner due to corner #1
BIL
The force in this case is along the direction between the wires. The force/length will be F =
L
G
F 2 × 10−7 I F1 I2 G
= IB = I or = 2 × 10−7 = 8.333µΝ / m . Similarly F2 = 8.333µΝ / m
L r L a
G
( )
2
I
and F3 == 2 × 10−7 = 8.333/ 2 µΝ . Diagram on right shows the direction of these 3 forces.
a 2
G G G
F1 F2 F3 8.333µΝ  xˆ yˆ  8.333µΝ / m
Hence = −8.333µΝ / m xˆ ; = 8.333µΝ / m yˆ and =  + = ( xˆ + yˆ )
L L L 2  2 2 2
G G
F F
Thus = 8.333(−1 + 1/ 2) xˆ + 8.333(1 + 1/ 2) yˆ = ( -4.17 xˆ + 12.5 yˆ ) µΝ / m
L L
 y
#1 #4

(b) Calculate the magnetic-field vector B at the center of the

#2 #3
square (point A). The key is superposition, which works for a a
both E and B fields.
#4
#1
#3 x
#2 a
G 2 ×10−7 I 2 ×10−7 I
Diagram shows direction of all four fields. Each field B = =
r a 2/2
G
B 2 ×10−7 I
The yˆ components cancel ; the four xˆ components add. Each Bx = − =−
2 a
G 2 × 10−7 I 8 × 10−7 (2.5 A)
Bx = −4 × = µΤ xˆ
= −13.33
a (0.15m)

A circular wire loop of radius R carries a current I circulating in the z

counterclockwise direction. The loop lies in the xy plane, and is
centered on the origin. We are interested in the magnetic field at a A
point A located on the z axis a distance d above the xy plane.
d
y
(c) What is the magnetic field B at the point A?
R
(i) The only way to solve this is with the Biot-Savart law, in
all its integral glory. We will have to integrate all the x I
contributions dB to the field from each little current
segment dI in the wire loop. As our first step, what is the direction of the total B field
at point A?

B
z
The diagram on the right shows the direction of the magnetic
90-θ
field due to the wire segment that is passing through the x-z
plane. As you revolve this current segment around the xy plane,
only the z component survives. d 2 + R2
d

θ
x
R

2
 (ii) From step (i), we realized that only one component will contribute to the final magnetic
field. Good ... now write down an expression for this component of dB, using the Biot-
Savart law.

G G G
G µ0 I d A × rˆ G µ0 I d A µ0 I Ad
dB =
4π r 2
from the diagram we see dB =
4π r 2
sin ( 90 0
− θ ) ˆ
z =
4π r 2
cosθ zˆ
G G
R G µ 0 I d A R µ 0 I R d A
r = d 2 + R 2 ; cosθ = ⇒ dB = zˆ = zˆ
( ) ( )
2 3
d 2 + R2 4π d + R 2 2 d 2
+ R 2
4π d + R 2 2

(ii) Finally, do the integral. To accomplish this, rewrite your integrand dB so that it
depends on only one integration variable.
G G
d A is a path along circumference thus d A =Rdφ as defined in figure.
G G µ0 I R zˆ 2π µ0 I R 2
B = v∫ dB = v∫ =∫ zˆ dφ
( ) ( )
3 0 3
4π d +R2 2
4π d +R
2 2
φ
G 2πµ0 I R 2 µ0 I R 2
B= zˆ = zˆ
( ) ( )
3 3
4π d +R
2 2
2 d +R2 2