Physics 202 - Chapter 30: Sources of Magnetic Fields

Chapter 30: Sources of Magnetic Fields

Outline

  • Biot-Savart Law
  • Magnetic force between two conductors
  • Ampere's Law
  • Magnetic field of a solenoid
  • Gauss's Law in Magnetism
  • Magnetism in Matter

Summary

  • Biot-Savart Law:
    • The magnetic field dBdB at a point P due to a length element dsds carrying a steady current II is given by: dB = aivefrac{μ_0}{4π} aivefrac{Ids × r}{r^2}
      • μ0μ_0 is the permeability of free space.
      • rr is the distance from the element to the point P.
      • rˊŕ is a unit vector pointing from dsds toward point P.
    • The total field at P is found by integrating this expression over the entire current distribution:
      B =
      aivefrac{μ_0 I}{4π} ∫
      aivefrac{ds × ŕ}{r^2}
  • Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel Wires:
    • The magnetic force per unit length between two parallel wires separated by a distance aa and carrying currents I<em>1I<em>1 and I</em>2I</em>2 is:
      F/ℓ =
      aivefrac{μ0 I1 I_2}{2πa}
    • The force is attractive if the currents are in the same direction and repulsive if they are in opposite directions.
  • Ampère's Law:
    • The line integral of BdsB ⋅ ds around any closed path equals μ<em>0Iμ<em>0I, where II is the total steady current through any surface bounded by the closed path: Bds=μ</em>0I∮ B ⋅ ds = μ</em>0I
  • Magnetic Field of a Long, Straight Wire:
    • The magnitude of the magnetic field at a distance rr from a long, straight wire carrying an electric current II is:
      B =
      aivefrac{μ_0I}{2πr}
    • The field lines are circles concentric with the wire.
  • Magnetic Field Inside a Toroid:
    • The magnetic field inside a toroid is:
      B =
      aivefrac{μ_0NI}{2πr}, where NN is the total number of turns.
  • Magnetic Field Inside a Solenoid:
    • The magnetic field inside a solenoid is:
      B = μ0 aivefrac{N}{L} I = μ0nI, where NN is the total number of turns, LL is the length, and nn is the number of turns per unit length.
  • Gauss's Law for Magnetism:
    • The net magnetic flux through any closed surface is zero:
      BdA=0∮ B ⋅ dA = 0
  • Magnetic Materials:
    • Diamagnetic Substances: Weak magnetic moment, opposite to the applied magnetic field.
    • Paramagnetic Substances: Weak magnetic moment, in the same direction as the applied magnetic field.
    • Ferromagnetic Substances: Interactions between atoms cause magnetic moments to align, creating a strong magnetization that remains after the external field is removed.

Biot-Savart Law Details

  • Experiments showed:
    • The vector dBdB is perpendicular to both dsds (direction of the current) and the unit vector rˊŕ (from dsds toward P).
    • The magnitude of dBdB is inversely proportional to r2r^2, where rr is the distance from dsds to P.
    • The magnitude of dBdB is proportional to the current II and the magnitude of dsds.
    • The magnitude of dBdB is proportional to sinθsin θ, where θθ is the angle between the vectors dsds and rˊŕ.
  • Mathematical Formulation: dB = aivefrac{μ_0}{4π} aivefrac{I ds × ŕ}{r^2}
    • dsds is in the direction of the current.
    • μ<em>0μ<em>0 is the permeability of free space: μ</em>0=4π×107Tm/Aμ</em>0 = 4π × 10^{-7} T ⋅ m/A
  • The total field is obtained by integrating over the whole current distribution:
    B =
    aivefrac{μ_0 I}{4π} ∫
    aivefrac{ds × ŕ}{r^2}
  • The direction of BB is determined by the right-hand rule.

Magnetic Field vs. Electric Field

FeatureElectric Field (E)Magnetic Field (B)
DistanceVaries as the inverse square of the distance.Varies as the inverse square of the distance from the source.
DirectionRadial from the point charge.Perpendicular to both the length element and the unit vector.
SourceIsolated electric charge.Current element, part of an extended current distribution.
  • You must integrate over the entire current distribution for magnetic fields.

Biot-Savart Law - Examples

  • Straight Wire:
    • Consider a thin, straight wire carrying a constant current II along the x-axis.
    • For an infinite wire, the magnetic field is calculated with integration limits θ<em>1=π/2θ<em>1 = π/2 and θ</em>2=π/2θ</em>2 = -π/2.
  • Current-Carrying Wire Segment:
    • Calculate the magnetic field at point O for a wire segment with two straight portions and a circular arc of radius aa subtending an angle θθ.
    • For segments A’A and C’C, ds×r=0ds × r = 0.
    • Along the arc, ds×r=ds|ds × r| = ds, and dBdB is into the page.
    • The B field at the center of a circular loop is thus (θ2π)(θ → 2π).
  • Circular Wire Loop:
    • Consider a circular wire loop of radius aa in the yz-plane carrying a steady current II.
    • Calculate the magnetic field at an axial point P a distance xx from the loop's center.
    • For all dsds along the loop, ds×r=ds|ds × r| = ds, and dBdB is perpendicular to the loop's axis.
    • The magnetic field at the center of the loop (x=0)(x = 0) is:
      B =
      aivefrac{μ_0I}{2a}
    • For x >> a, the magnetic field is given by:
      B ≈
      aivefrac{μ_0}{4π}
      aivefrac{2μ}{x^3}, where μ=Iπa2μ = Iπa^2 is the dipole moment of the loop.
    • This is similar to the electric field due to an electric dipole.

Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel Conductors

  • If the force per unit length between two long, parallel wires carrying identical currents separated by 1 m is 2×107N/m2 × 10^{-7} N/m, the current in each wire is defined as 1 A.
  • The field B<em>2B<em>2 due to the current in wire 2 exerts a force on wire 1 of: F</em>1=I<em>1B</em>2F</em>1 = I<em>1ℓB</em>2.
  • The magnetic field of wire 2 is: B2 = aivefrac{μ0I_2}{2πa}.
  • Thus, the force per unit length is: F/ℓ =
    aivefrac{μ0I1I_2}{2πa}.
  • The force is attractive for parallel currents and repulsive for antiparallel currents.

Ampère’s Law

  • The magnetic field lines are circles concentric with the wire.
  • The field lines lie in planes perpendicular to the wire.
  • The magnitude of the field is constant on any circle of radius aa.
  • The right-hand rule determines the field's direction.
  • Evaluating the integral of BdsB ⋅ ds over a circular path around the current:
    Bds=Bds=B(2πr)=μ<em>0I∮ B ⋅ ds = B ∮ ds = B(2πr) = μ<em>0I Thus, B = aivefrac{μ0I}{2πr}.
  • Ampère’s law describes the creation of magnetic fields by all continuous current configurations.
  • It is used for calculating the magnetic field of current configurations with a high degree of symmetry,
  • Similar to Gauss’s law in calculating electric fields for highly symmetric charge distributions.

Ampère’s Law – Examples

  • Magnetic Field Due to a Long Current-Carrying Wire:
    • A long, straight wire of radius RR carries a steady current II uniformly distributed through the cross-section.
    • Calculate the magnetic field at a distance rr from the wire's center for r >= R and r < R.
    • For r >= R:
      Bds=μ<em>0I∮ B ⋅ ds = μ<em>0IB(2πr)=μ</em>0IB(2πr) = μ</em>0I
      B =
      aivefrac{μ_0I}{2πr}
    • For r < R:
      Bds=μ<em>0I</em>enc∮ B ⋅ ds = μ<em>0I</em>{enc}
      B(2πr) = μ0I aivefrac{πr^2}{πR^2} B = aivefrac{μ0Ir}{2πR^2}
  • Magnetic Field Due to a Solenoid:
    • A solenoid is a long wire wound in the form of a helix.
    • A reasonably uniform magnetic field can be produced in the space surrounded by the wire turns.
    • The field lines in the interior are nearly parallel, uniformly distributed, and close together, indicating a strong and almost uniform field.
    • Applying Ampère’s law to a rectangle with side parallel to the interior field:
      Bds=<em>1Bds+</em>2Bds+<em>3Bds+</em>4Bds=μ<em>0NI∮ B ⋅ ds = ∫<em>1 B ⋅ ds + ∫</em>2 B ⋅ ds + ∫<em>3 B ⋅ ds + ∫</em>4 B ⋅ ds = μ<em>0NIB=μ</em>0nIBℓ = μ</em>0nℓI
      B=μ0nIB = μ_0nI where nn is the number of turns per unit length.
    • The field distribution is similar to that of a bar magnet.
    • An ideal solenoid has closely spaced turns and a length much greater than the radius of the turns.

Magnetic Flux

  • The magnetic flux associated with a magnetic field is defined similarly to electric flux.
  • Consider an area element dAdA on an arbitrarily shaped surface.
  • The magnetic flux through the surface is: ΦB=BdAΦ_B = ∫ B ⋅ dA.
  • If the magnetic field makes an angle theta with the area vector, then the flux is: ΦB=BAcosθΦ_B = B A cos θ.
  • The unit of the magnetic flux is the Weber (Wb): Tm2=WbT ⋅ m^2 = Wb.

Gauss's Law in Magnetism

  • Magnetic fields do not begin or end at any point.
  • Magnetic field lines are continuous and form closed loops.
  • The number of lines entering a surface equals the number of lines leaving the surface.
  • Therefore, the integral of the magnetic field over any closed surface is zero: BdA=0∮ B ⋅ dA = 0.
  • No magnetic monopoles have been found (i.e., no separate North or South).

Magnetism in Matter

  • Semi-classical theory: an electron as a point charge orbiting a positive nucleus with radius rr and periodic time T =
    aivefrac{2πr}{v}.
  • The movement of the electron amounts to a current loop.
  • The current in this loop is: I =
    aivefrac{e}{T} =
    aivefrac{ev}{2πr}.
  • The orbital angular momentum of the electron is L=mevrL = m_e v r.
  • The magnetic moment of the loop is:
    μ = IA =
    aivefrac{ev}{2πr} πr^2 =
    aivefrac{evr}{2} =
    aivefrac{e}{2me} (me vr) =
    aivefrac{e}{2m_e} L
  • The magnetic moment of the atom is also quantized.
  • The smallest value of μμ is the Bohr magneton: μB = aivefrac{eħ}{2me} = 9.27 × 10^{-24} J/T.

Magnetism in Matter – Spin Magnetic Moment

  • The electron has an intrinsic property called spin, which gives it another magnetic moment.
  • The spin angular momentum is also quantized: S =
    aivefrac{\sqrt{3}}{2} ħ.
  • The magnetic moment associated with this spin is: μ{spin} = aivefrac{eħ}{2me}.
  • The total magnetic moment of an atom is the vector sum of the orbital and spin magnetic moments of all its electrons: μ<em>atom=</em>allelectrons(μ+μspin)μ<em>{atom} = ∑</em>{all electrons} (μ + μ_{spin}).

Magnetism in Matter – Magnetization

  • Magnetization Vector: M =
    aivefrac{μ}{V}, where μμ is the total magnetic moment and VV is the volume.
  • The magnetization produces its own magnetic field: B<em>M=μ</em>0MB<em>M = μ</em>0M.
  • If there is also an external magnetic field B<em>0B<em>0, then the total field is: B=B</em>0+B<em>M=μ</em>0(H+M)B = B</em>0 + B<em>M = μ</em>0(H + M), where H =
    aivefrac{B0}{μ0} is the magnetic field strength of the external field B0B_0.

Magnetism in Matter – Materials Response

  • The magnetization of a material is proportional to the external field strength HH: M=χHM = χH, where χχ is the magnetic susceptibility of the material.
  • The total magnetic flux density BB inside the material:
    B=μ<em>0(H+M)=μ</em>0(H+χH)=μ0(1+χ)HB = μ<em>0(H + M) = μ</em>0(H + χH) = μ_0(1 + χ)H
  • The magnetic permeability of a material is defined as: μ<em>m=μ</em>0(1+χ)μ<em>m = μ</em>0(1 + χ)
  • Thus, the total magnetic flux density inside a material due to an external field is: B=μmHB = μ_m H

Magnetic Materials

  • Diamagnetic Material: B < H
  • Paramagnetic Material: B > H
  • Ferromagnetic Material: B >> H

Ferromagnetic Materials

  • Microscopic regions (domains) have aligned magnetic moments in different directions.
  • When B0=0B_0 = 0 and M=0M = 0 due to random orientation of the domains.
  • When B<em>0>0B<em>0 > 0, domains parallel to B</em>0B</em>0 grow.
  • After the field is removed, the domains remain oriented, so the material remains magnetized and forms a magnet.
  • A magnet can be demagnetized by reversing an external field in cycles to restore random domains.

Paramagnetic Materials

  • Paramagnetic substances have a weak magnetism resulting from the presence of atoms (or ions) that have permanent magnetic moments.
  • These moments interact only weakly with one another and are randomly oriented in the absence of an external magnetic field.
  • When a paramagnetic substance is placed in an external magnetic field, its atomic moments tend to line up with the field.
  • This alignment competes with thermal motion, which tends to randomize the magnetic moment orientations.

Diamagnetic Materials

  • When an external magnetic field is applied to a diamagnetic substance, a weak magnetic moment is induced in the direction opposite the applied field, causing diamagnetic substances to be weakly repelled by a magnet.
  • Although diamagnetism is present in all matter, its effects are much smaller than those of paramagnetism or ferromagnetism and are evident only when those other effects do not exist.

Magnetic Materials – χ Values

MaterialParamagnetic χ/105χ / 10^{-5}MaterialDiamagnetic χ/105χ / 10^{-5}
Aluminum2.3Copper-0.98
Lithium2.1Gold-3.6
Chromium27Mercury-2.9
Oxygen0.21Nitrogen-0.0005
Platinum29Silicon-0.42
  • Paramagnetic materials: χ > 0 => μm > μ0
  • Diamagnetic materials: χ<0=>μ<em>m<μ</em>0χ < 0 => μ<em>m < μ</em>0

Meissner Effect

  • Certain types of superconductors also exhibit perfect diamagnetism in the superconducting state.
  • This is called the Meissner effect.
  • If a permanent magnet is brought near a superconductor, the two objects repel each other.

Ampère's Law - Quizzes

  • Quick Quiz 30.3: Ranking magnitudes of Bds∮ B ⋅ ds for closed paths a through d.
  • Quick Quiz 30.4: Ranking magnitudes of Bds∮ B ⋅ ds for closed paths a through d near a single current-carrying wire.