Tutorial

Applications of the Biot-Savart

Law Part I

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1. Finite-length Wire with Current

Determine the magnetic field of a straight current-carrying wire
of finite length AB .
assume observation point P lies in
the z = 0 plane
Idl R
dH =
4 R 3

z
B
0
P ( , , z = 0)
B 2
R

dl = dz a z
R = (
)a + ( z z )a z
0

Idz a z
A

z currentelement position

) a dz
dl R= dz a z ( a z a z=
B
1
I
I
z
=
=

H a
dz a

2
2
3/2
4 A ( + z )
4 2 2 + z 2
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zB

zA

1. Finite-length Wire with Current, cont.

z

z 2

= cos

=
H( P ) a

I
4

(cos 1 cos 2 )

I
(cos 1 cos 2 )
=
B =
H a
4
The above result can be used to find the field of the asymptotic
case of an infinite wire, where z A and z B .
z A 1 0 cos 1 1
z B 2 180 cos 2 1
I
B=
a
infinite wire
2
This result can be easily derived using Ampres law.
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2. Infinite Sheet with Surface Current

Determine the magnetic field of an infinite sheet of surface
current density K = Ka y in the z = 0 plane.
work in rectangular coordinates
r za z , =
r xa x + ya y
=

r r =
R =
xa x ya y + za z

K ( x, y) R
=
B

ds, T
3
R
4 S

B=
4

a n = a z
y K

R
B
z
r P (0,0,
z)
an = a z

Ka y ( xa x ya y + za z )
dxdy

2
2
2
3/2
( x + y + z )
x = y =
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2. Infinite Sheet with Surface Current, cont.

K
B=
4

xa z + za x
( x2 + y2 + z 2 )3/2 dxdy
x= y=

odd function of

x
K
dxdy
B = az
2
2
2 3/2
4 x= y= ( x + y + z )

z
dxdy
+ ax
2
2
2 3/2
( x + y + z )

x= y=
even function of x and y
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2. Infinite Sheet with Surface Current, cont.

1
Kz
dxdy
B=
ax

2
2
2
3/2
=x 0=y 0 ( x + y + z )

1
Kz
dx dy
B=
ax

2
2
2
3/2
=y 0=
x 0 ( x + y + z )

Kz
x

dy
ax
B=
y=0 ( y2 + z 2 ) x2 + y2 + z 2
0

1
y
Kz
Kz 1
dy a x
arctan
B ax

=
=

2
2
z 0
y = 0 ( y + z )
|z|

K
K
=
=
B sgn( z ) a x
B sgn( z ) a x
2
2
No magnitude dependence on z! Compare with the ESF: | E |=
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| s |
2

2. Infinite Sheet with Surface Current, cont.

K
=
H sgn( z ) a x
2
In general, for an infinite sheet of current density K (A/m)
1
=
H
K a n , A/m
2

D = an

s
2

, C/m 2

where an points from the current sheet to the region of

observation.
This result can be also derived using Ampres law (see Lecture
16).

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