Semester II, 2015-16

Department of Physics, IIT Kanpur

PHY103A: Lecture # 17
(Text Book: Intro to Electrodynamics by Griffiths, 3rd Ed.)

Anand Kumar Jha

Notes
Homework # 6 has been posted on the course webpage
This will be the last homework before mid-sem

Summary of Lecture # 16:

Magnetic Force:

mag = Q( )

Lorentz Force Law

The work done by a magnetic force is zero !

Current

=
=

mag =
=

Surface
Current
Density

mag = Q

Volume
Current
Density

=
=

mag = Q

The Continuity Equation

The Biot-Savart Law

The magnetic field produced by a steady line current
0
r
=
2
r
4

0 is the permeability of free space

0 = 4 107 N/A2

The unit of magnetic field is Newton per Ampere-meter, or Tesla

1 Tesla is a very strong magnetic field. Earths magnetic field is
about 104 times smaller

Biot-Savart law for magnetic field is analogous to Coulombs law for

electric field

The Biot-Savart Law

The magnetic field produced by a surface current
0 ( ) r
=

2
r
4

The magnetic field produced by a volume current

0 ( ) r
=

2
r
4

The Biot-Savart Law

Ex. 5.5 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Calculate the
magnetic field due to a long straight wire
carrying a steady current .
0
r
=
2
r
4

r = cos

= tan

= r cos

0
=

4
1

cos 2
2

cos 2

1 cos 2
=
r2
2

cos
cos 2

0
=
cos
4
1

0
=
sin2 + sin1
4

The Biot-Savart Law

Ex. 5.5 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Calculate the
magnetic field due to a long straight wire
carrying a steady current .
=

0
r
2
r
4

0
=
sin2 + sin1
4
Field due to an infinite wire ?

1 =
2

2 =

0
=
sin2 + sin1
4

0
=
1 + 1
4
0
=

The Biot-Savart Law

Ex. 5.6 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Find the field
above the center of a loop (radius , current ).
0
r
=
2
r
4

The line element produces the field at . The

horizontal components of this field cancels out.

The vertical component of this field is

0
=
cos
4 r2

The total field, which is in the direction, is

0
0 cos
0 cos
=
2 =
= 4 r3 2
2
4
r
4 r
2
0
=
2 2 + 2
What is the field at the center?

0
0 2
=
0 =
3
2
2

3/2
8

The Curl of

What is the curl of ?

Should be non-zero !

Check for the case of straight wire with current

0
B =
2
For circular path of radius

0
0
0
=
2 = 0
=

2
2
2
The line integral is independent of

For an arbitrary path enclosing the current carrying wire

The field is best represented in the cylindrical coordinate

0

+
= +

2
0

0
( +
+ ) =

= 0
So, =
2
2 0

The Curl of

What is the curl of ?

Should be non-zero !

Check for the case of straight wire with current

= 0

If the path encloses more than one current carrying wire

= 0 1 + 0 2 + 0 3 = 0 enc

But

enc =

= 0

( ) = 0

= 0

Is this valid only for straight wires?

It is valid in general

No
10

The Amperes Law

= 0
= 0 enc

Amperes law in differential form

Amperes law in integral form

Amperes law is analogous to Gausss law

Amperes law makes the calculation of magnetic
field very easy if there is symmetry.
If there is no symmetry, one has to use Biot-Savart
law to calculate the magnetic field.

11

The Amperes Law

Ex. 5.5 (Griffiths, 3rd Ed. ): Calculate the
magnetic field due to an infinitely long
straight wire carrying a steady current .

Using Biot-Savart Law

=
2

We want to do this problem using Amperes law

Make an Amperian loop of radius enclosing the current
Since it is an infinite wire, the magnetic field must
be circularly symmetric. Therefore,

0
=
2

= 2

= 0 enc

So Easy !!

= 0
12