BIOT - SAVART LAW
Biot and Savart experimentally observed that the magnitude of magnetic field
dB at a point P at a distance r from the small elemental length taken on a
conductor carrying current varies
(i) directly as the strength of the current I dl
(ii) directly as the magnitude of the length element dl and (iii)
directly as the sine of the angle θ between dl and r.
(iv) inversely as the square of the distance r between the point P and length
element dl.
This is expressed as
Here vector dB is perpendicular to both I dl (pointing the direction of
current flow) and the unit vector r directed from toward point P.
The equation is used to compute the magnetic field only due to a small
elemental length dl of the conductor. The net magnetic field at P due to the
conductor is obtained from principle of superposition by considering the
contribution from all current elements I dl . Hence integrating equation, we
get
where the integral is taken over the entire current distribution.
Cases
1. If the point P lies on the conductor, then θ = 0o. Therefore, | dB | is zero.
2. If the point lies perpendicular to the conductor, then θ = 90. Therefore, dB is
maximum and is given by where n is the unit vector perpendicular to both I
dl and r.
APPLICATION
Magnetic field due to long straight conductor carrying current
Let YY’ be an infinitely long straight conductor and I be the steady current
through the conductor as shown in the Figure. In order to calculate magnetic
field at a point P which is at a distance a from the wire, let us consider a small
line element dl (segment AB).
The magnetic field at a point P due to current element Idl can be calculated from
Biot -Savart’s law, which is
where n is the unit vector which points into the page at P, θ is the angle between
current element Idl and line joining dl and the point P. Let r be the distance
between line element at A to the point P.
To apply trigonometry, draw a perpendicular line from A to BP as shown in
Figure
𝐴𝐶
In triangle ∆ABC, sinθ=
𝐴𝐵
=>AC= ABsinθ
But AB=dl=> AC=dlsinθ
Let dɸ be the angle subtended between AP and BP
i.e., APB= APC=dɸ
𝐴𝐶
In a triangle ∆APC, sin(dɸ)=
𝐴𝑃
Since dɸ is very small, sin(dɸ) dɸ
But AP=r => AC=rdɸ
Let ɸ be the angle between AP and OP
𝑂𝑃 𝑎
In a ∆OPA, cosɸ= =
𝐴𝑃 𝑟
The total magnetic field at P due to the conductor YY’ is
AMPÈRE’S CIRCUITAL LAW
Ampère’s circuital law is used to calculate magnetic field at a point
whenever there is a symmetry in the problem. This is similar to Gauss’s law
in electrostatics.
Ampère’s circuital law
Ampère’s law: The line integral of magnetic field over a closed loop is μ0
times net current enclosed by the loop.
⃗ . ⅆ𝑙 = 𝜇0 Ienclosed
∮𝐵
𝐶
Where Ienclosed is the net current linked by the closed loop C. Note that the
line integral does not depend on the shape of the path or the position of the
conductor with the magnetic field.
Magnetic field due to the current carrying wire of infinite length using
Ampère’s law
Consider a straight conductor of infinite length carrying current I and the
direction of magnetic field lines is shown in Figure 3.37. Since the wire is
geometrically cylindrical in shape and symmetrical about its axis, we
construct an Ampèrian loop in the form of a circular shape at a distance r
from the centre of the conductor as shown in Figure 3.37. From the
Ampère’s law, we get
⃗ . ⅆ𝑙 = 𝜇0 I
∮𝐵
𝐶
where dl is the line element along the Amperian loop (tangent to the circular
loop). Hence, the angle between magnetic field vector and line element is
zero. Therefore,
∮𝐶 𝐵. ⅆ𝑙 = 𝜇0 I
where I is the current enclosed by the Ampèrian loop. Due to the symmetry,
the magnitude of the magnetic field is uniform over the Ampèrian loop.
Hence
B∮𝐶 ⅆ𝑙 = 𝜇0 I
For a circular loop, the circumference is 2πr, which implies,
In vector form, the magnetic field is
𝜇0𝐼
⃗ =
𝐵 𝑛̂
2ℼ𝑟
where n is the unit vector along the tangent to the Ampèrian loop as shown
in the Figure.
