Biot Savart Law

Show/Hide Page Index

Previous

The mathematical expression for magnetic flux density was derived Next
by Jean Baptiste Biot and Felix Savart. Talking the deflection of a
compass needle as a measure of the intensity of a current, varying in magnitude and shape, the
two scientists concluded that any current element projects into space a magnetic field, the
magnetic flux density of which dB, is directly proportional to the length of the element dl, the
current I, the sine of the angle and between direction of the current and the vector joining a
given point of the field and the current element and is inversely proportional to the square of the
distance of the given point from the current element, r. this is Biot Savart law statement.

Where, K is a constant, depends upon the magnetic properties of the medium and system of the
units employed. In SI system of unit,

Therefore final Biot Savart law derivation is,

Let us consider a long wire carrying an current I and also consider a point p. The wire is presented
in the below picture by red color. Let us also consider an infinitely small length of the wire dl at a
distance r from the point P as shown. Here r is a distance vector which makes an angle with the
direction of current in the infinitesimal portion of the wire.
If you try to visualize the condition, you can easily understand the magnetic field density at that
point P due to that infinitesimal length dl of wire is directly proportional to current carried by this
portion of the wire. That means current through this infinitesimal portion of the wire is increased
the magnetic field density due to this infinitesimal length of wire, at point P increases proportionally
and if the current through this portion of wire is decreased the magnetic field density at point P
due to this infinitesimal length of wire decreases proportionally.
As the current through that infinitesimal length of wire is same as the current carried by the wire

itself.

It is also very natural to think that the magnetic field density at that point P due to that infinitesimal
length dl of wire is inversely proportional to the square of the straight distance from point P to
center of dl. That means distance r of this infinitesimal portion of the wire is increased the magnetic
field density due to this infinitesimal length of wire, at point P decreases and if the distance of this
portion of wire from point P, is decreased, the magnetic field density at point P due to this
infinitesimal length of wire increases accordingly.

Lastly, field density at that point P due to that infinitesimal portion of wire is also directly
proportional to the actual length of the infinitesimal length dl of wire. As be the angle between
distance vector r and direction of current through this infinitesimal portion of the wire. The
component of dl directly facing perpendicular to the point P is dlsin,

Now combining these three statements, we can write,

This is the basic form of Biot Savart's Law

Now putting the value of constant k (which we have already introduced at the beginning of this
article) in the above expression, we get

Here, 0 used in the expression of constant k is absolute permeability of air or vacuum and it's
value is 410 - 7 Wb/ A-m in S.I system of units. r of the expression of constant k is relative
permeability of the medium.

Now, flux density(B) at the point P due to total length of the current carrying conductor or wire
can be represented as,

If D is the perpendicular distance of the point P form the wire, then

Now, the expression of flux density B at point P can be rewritten as,

As per the figure above,

Finally the expression of B comes as,

This angle depends upon the length of the wire and the position of the point P. Say for certain
limited length of the wire, angle as indicated in the figure above varies from 1 to 2. Hence, flux
density at point P due to total length of the conductor is,

Let's imagine the wire is infinitely long, then will vary from 0 to that is 1 = 0 to 2 = . Putting
these two values in the above final expression of Biot Savart law, we get,

This is nothing but the expression of Ampere's Law .

Previous

Next

Ohms Law | Equation Formula and Limitation of Ohms Law

Joules Law of Heating
Faraday Law of Electromagnetic Induction
Lenz Law of Electromagnetic Induction
Faraday First and Second Laws of Electrolysis
Coulombs Law | Explanation Statement Formulas Principle Limitation of Coulombs Law
Gauss Theorem
Fleming Left Hand rule and Fleming Right Hand rule
Seebeck Effect and Seebeck Coefficient

Please provide your valuable comments

Name : Enter your name here

Email : Enter your email here

Location : Enter your location here

Your content : -

Enter your content here

Enter the above code here

Regenerate Code
Submit
Reset

 2011-2016 electrical4u.The content is copyrighted to electrical4u and may not be

reproduced on other websites.