Problem 1

A straight thin wire with carries a current I. Consider the magnetic field produced by a segment
of the wire of length L. Starting with the law of Biot and Savart, derive an expression for the
magnetic field due to this segment at the perpendicular distance y from the center of the segment.
Show that the magnitude of the field is given by B

0 I

4y L2 4 y 2

What is B if I = 1 mA, and y = 1 cm.

The law of Biot and Savart

Idl r
B 0
4
r3

For segment of length L

B 0, y

0 L / 2
dx

2
4 L / 2 x y 2

3/ 2

To evaluate the integral make the substitution

x 2 y2
x

Then

dx
2

2 3/ 2

B 0, y

B 0, y

0I
4y

1 dt
y2 t 2 ,
0
1
2
4
y

0 1
0I
dt

2 4y 2 t t ( L / 2) 4y
t ( L / 2) t

L / 2

y2

4 10 7 10 3
2 10

4 10

10

t ( L / 2)

t ( L / 2)

0I
4y L2 4 y 2
0.9 10 8 T

L/2

L / 2 2 y 2

L/2

L / 2 2 y 2

Problem 2
A wire loop carrying a current I is bent in the shape of regular N-sided polygon having sides
length L. Using the result for problem 1, obtain an expression for the magnetic field at the center
of the polygon. Use you expression to find the magnetic field at the center of a circular loop by
taking appropriate limits.
N L 2a
L 2 / N a

/ Na
L

2 tan / N tan / N

0I
I
NL
2a
0
2
2
2 y 4 y L
2 y 4 y 2 L2

For circular loop N L 0 and

y

/ N a / N a a
L

/ N
2 tan / N tan / N

0I
I 2a
I
2a
0
0
2
2
2 y 4 y L
2 a 2a 2a

Problem 3
A circular wire loop of radius a carrying a current I lies in the x-y plane, with the z-axis running
through its center. Using the law of Biot and Savart, derive an expression for the magnetic field
strength a distance z from the loop along the z-axis.
Show that B

0 I a 2
2 a 2 z 2 3 / 2

Using this result, find the magnetic field strength along the axis of a long solenoid of radius 1
cm, carrying a current of 1 mA. The winding density on the solenoid is 1000 turns per
centimeter.
The law of Biot and Savart

0 Id l r
B
4
r3

r rxy rz ( rxy - vector in xy plane, rz - vectot along z axis)

For each d l rz d l rz hence only d l rxy contribute.

0I
4

a
0

a 2 d
2

z2

3/ 2

0 I 2 a 2
0 I a 2

4 a 2 z 2 3 / 2 2 a 2 z 2 3 / 2

The magnetic field along the axis of a long solenoid

BS

B dz

(B magnetic field of the circular wire loop)

I n a 2 dz 0 I n
BS 0
2 L a 2 z 2 3 / 2
2
L

z
a z
2

0 I n
2

2L
a L
2

0 I n

a / L 2 1

(n winding density)
The long solenoid a / L 1 BS 0 I n
BS 4 10 7 10 3 10 5 12.57 10 5 T

Problem 5
Two parallel wires each carry a current of 1 ampere in the same direction. If the wires are
separated by 1 meter, what is the force between them if they are each 10 meters long?
Magnetic field of wire carrying a current
B

0I
2r

(r distance between the wires)

The force between two wires

B
dl

F IBL

0 I 2 L 4 10 7 1 10

2 10 6 N
2r
2 1

Problem 7
A hanging coil galvanometer has a 50 turn coil with area 2.5x10 -4 m2. It is held in place by a
torsional spring having a stiffness constant k = 2 Nm/radian. When placed in an 0.1 T uniform
magnetic field, what is the maximum deflection of the coil if the current through the
galvanometer is 1 A?

M p m B N I S B
M NISB k

NISB 50 10 6 2.5 10 4 0.1

6.25 10 10 radian
k
2