Magnetic Field

due to
a CurrentCarrying Wire
Biot-Savart
Law
AP Physics C
Mrs. Coyle
Hans Christian Oersted, 1820

 Magnetic fields are caused by currents.

Hans Christian Oersted in 1820s showed that
a current carrying wire deflects a compass.
No Current in the Wire

Current in the Wire

Right Hand Curl Rule

Magnetic Fields of Long CurrentCarrying Wires

B = o I
2r
I = current through the wire (Amps)
r = distance from the wire (m)
o = permeability of free space
= 4 x 10-7 T m / A
B = magnetic field strength (Tesla)

Magnetic Field of a Current

Carrying Wire
http://www.walter-fendt.de/ph14e/mfwire.h
tm

What if the current-carrying wire is not

straight? Use the Biot-Savart Law:
Assume a small segment of
wire ds causing a field dB:

0 ds r
dB
I
2

r
Note:
dB is perpendicular to ds and r

Biot-Savart Law allows us to calculate

the Magnetic Field Vector
To find the total field, sum up the contributions
from all the current elements I ds

ds i ri
0
B
I
2

ri
The integral is over the entire current
distribution

o I
B
4

ds r
r2

Note on Biot-Savart Law

The law is also valid for a current consisting
of charges flowing through space
ds represents the length of a small
segment of space in which the charges
flow.
Example: electron beam in a TV set

Comparison of Magnetic to Electric Field

Magnetic Field

Electric Field

B proportional to r2
Vector
Perpendicular to FB , ds, r
Magnetic field lines have
no beginning and no end;
they form continuous
circles

Biot-Savart Law
Amperes Law (where
there is symmetry

E proportional to r2
Vector
Same direction as FE
Electric field lines begin
on positive charges and
end on negative charges

Coulombs Law
Gausss Law (where
there is symmetry)

Derivation of B for a Long, Straight

Current-Carrying Wire
Integrating over all the
current elements gives

ds r dxsin

o I 2
B d sin
4a 1
o I

cos 1 cos 2
4a

If the conductor is an infinitely long,

straight wire, = 0 and =
The field becomes:

o I
B
2a

B for a Curved Wire Segment

Find the field at point O due
to the wire segment AACC:
B=0 due to AA and CC
Due to the circular arc:

o I
B
4

ds r
r2

o I
B
4R

s/R, will be in radians

B at the Center of a Circular Loop of Wire

o I
o I
B

2
Consider the previous
4R
4R
result, with = 2
o I
B
2R

Note
The overall shape of the magnetic field of the circular
loop is similar to the magnetic field of a bar magnet.

B along the axis of a Circular Current Loop

Find B at point P

o I
B
4

Bx

ds r
r2

o I R 2

2 x R
2

If x=0, B same as at center of a loop

If x is at a very large distance away

from the loop.
x>>R:
Bx

o I R 2

2 x R
2

o I R 2

2x 3

Magnetic Force Between Two Parallel

Conductors
The field B2 due to
the current in wire 2
exerts a force on
wire 1 of
F1 = I1 B2

o I 2
B2
2a

o I1 I 2
F1
l
2a

Magnetic Field at Center of a Solenoid

B = o NI
L

N: Number of
turns
L: Length
n=N/L
------------------------L----------------

Direction of Force Between Two

Parallel Conductors
If the currents are in the:
same direction the wires attract each other.
opposite directions the wires repel each other.

Magnetic Force Between Two

Parallel Conductors, FB
Force per unit length:

F
B
o I1 I 2

l
2a

Definition of the Ampere

When the magnitude of the force per unit
length between two long parallel wires that
carry identical currents and are separated
by 1 m is 2 x 10-7 N/m, the current in each
wire is defined to be 1 A

Definition of the Coulomb

The SI unit of charge, the coulomb, is
defined in terms of the ampere
When a conductor carries a steady current
of 1 A, the quantity of charge that flows
through a cross section of the conductor in
1 s is 1 C

Biot-Savart Law: Field produced by current

ds r
carrying wires
dB
I
0

0 I
B
2a

Distance a from long straight wire

Centre of a wire loop radius R

0 I
2R

0 NI
Centre of a tight Wire Coil with N turns B
2R

Force between two wires

F 0 I1 I 2

l
2a