B.Sc. Engg.

P-1 Odd Semester Exam 2018

What is ⃗𝑩
⃗ ?

A magnetic field ⃗𝑩
⃗ is a field that can exert a force on a moving charge. It is defined as the magnetic flux per unit
cross sectional area.
Magnetic force on a moving charge:
⃗ as shown in fig-1.
If a positive electric charge is fired in a magnetic field 𝐵
⃗
The force 𝐹𝐵 is perpendicular to the plane formed by velocity 𝑣 and field 𝐵

If the velocity is constant then the 𝐹𝐵 is proportional to 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙 but if the velocity is
varied then 𝐹𝐵 proportional to 𝑣.
⃗⃗⃗

𝐹𝐵 is also proportional to charge 𝑞.

⃗ 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙 = q (𝑣 × 𝐵
At any arbitrary angle, 𝜙 , 𝐹𝐵 = q𝑣𝐵 ⃗)
Figure 1: A positive charge q
is fired in a magnetic field
Remarks:
(i) What happen if a charge q is fired along the direction of B?
⃗ × 𝑣 instead of 𝑣 × 𝐵
(ii) What does it mean if we write 𝐵 ⃗?

Problem: Calculate the magnetic force on a proton of mass 1.67 × 10−27 kg. When moving through a magnetic
field of 1.3 𝑚𝑇 with a kinetic energy of 5.3 𝑀𝑒𝑉 as shown in fig-2.
1
𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛: 𝑊𝑒 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝐾 = 𝑚𝑣 2
2

2𝐾 (2)(5.3𝑀𝑒𝑉)(1.6 × 10−13 𝐽/𝑀𝑒𝑉)

𝑆𝑜𝑙𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑣, 𝑤𝑒 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 , 𝑣 = √ =√
𝑚 1.67 × 10−27 𝑘𝑔

= 3.2 × 107 𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞𝑣𝐵 sinϕ = (1.6 × 10−19 𝐶)(3.2 × 107 m/sec) × (1.2 × 10−3 𝑇)(𝑠𝑖𝑛90°)

𝐹𝐵 = 6.1× 10−15 𝑁
This seems like very small force but it acts on a particle of very small mass,
producing a large acceleration

𝐹𝐵 6.1 × 10−15 𝑁
𝛼= = = 3.7 × 1012 m/𝑆 2
𝑚 1.67 × 10−27 𝑘𝑔

Lorentz force:

The electric force on a positive q charge is q𝐸⃗ and the magnetic force on the charge
⃗ ) is shown in fog-2. The combined force is
is q (𝑣 × 𝐵 Figure 2: Lorentz force on a
moving positive charge in
𝐹 = q𝐸⃗ (𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑟𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒) + 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵
⃗ ) (𝑚𝑎𝑔𝑛𝑒𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝑓𝑜𝑟𝑐𝑒)
combined electric and
This is called the Lorentz force. magnetic field

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 B.Sc. Engg. P-1 Odd Semester Exam 2018

Magnetic force on a current carrying wire:

A magnetic field 𝐵⃗ exert a sideways force on a wire carrying current

because electron cannot escape from the wire as shown in fig-3.
⃗)
The force exert on an electron is 𝐹𝐵 = e (𝑣𝑑 × 𝐵
Consider a segment of wire of length L and total electron crossing an area A
is given by

𝑁 = 𝑛𝐴𝐿
The net force, 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑛𝐴𝐿 𝒆 (𝒗⃗ 𝒅 × ⃗𝑩
⃗)
Define vector 𝐿⃗ to be equal to the wire segment L, then we can write

𝑒𝑛𝐴 𝑣𝑑 𝐿 = I 𝐿⃗ (since I = en𝑣𝑑 A)

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑒𝑛𝐴 𝑣𝑑 𝐿 𝐵 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙 Figure 3: magnetic force on a current
carrying wire
Therefore, 𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼 (𝐿⃗ × 𝑩
⃗⃗ ) = 𝑖𝐿𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙

Problem: A straight horizontal segment of copper wire carries current of

28 A as shown in fig-4. what are the magnitude and direction of magnetic
field needed to float the wire against gravity? Mass density of copper
wire 46.6 g/m.
Solution: This condition occurs when gravitational force will be equal to
magnetic force, 𝑀𝑔 = 𝑖𝐿𝐵
(𝑚/𝐿)𝑔 (46.6×10−3 𝑘𝑔/𝑚)(9.8𝑚/𝑆 2 ) Figure 4: Current carrying copper wire in a
∴ 𝐵= = magnetic field
𝑖 28 𝐴

B = 16 mT
Torque on a current loop:
The length of the loop is ‘a’ and width is ‘b’ carrying current I as shown in fig-5

Sides ‘1’ and ‘3’ of the loop are perpendicular to⃗⃗⃗𝐵 and the force on these arms is
𝐹1 = 𝐹3 = 𝑖𝑎𝐵

The direction of current in side ‘2’ makes an angle (90+𝜃) with ⃗⃗⃗𝐵

∴ 𝐹2 = 𝑖𝑏𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛(90 + 𝜃) = 𝑖𝑏𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃
Similarly force on side ‘4’ is
𝐹4 = 𝑖𝑏𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛(90 − 𝜃) = 𝑖𝑏𝐵𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃

𝐹2 and 𝐹4 are equal and opposite and act in same line and cancel each other.
But 𝐹1 and 𝐹3 are equal and not act on a line. 𝐹1 and 𝐹3 both have a moment arm
𝑏 Figure 5: A rectangular loop
of 2
sin𝜃
carrying a current 𝑖 placed in a
𝑏 uniform magnetic field
𝑇𝑜𝑡𝑎𝑙 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑞𝑢𝑒 𝑖𝑠 , 𝜏 = 2(𝑖𝑎𝐵) 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑖𝑎𝑏𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃 = 𝑖𝐴𝐵𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜃
2

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 B.Sc. Engg. P-1 Odd Semester Exam 2018

Biot-Savart Law:
We know the magnetic field due to a moving charge is
𝜇0 𝑣 × 𝑟
⃗ =
𝑑𝐵 𝑞 3
4𝜋 𝑟
The B due to a charge element dS is (fig-6)
𝜇0 𝑑𝑞 (𝑣 × 𝑟)
⃗ =
𝑑𝐵 − − − − − (1)
4𝜋 𝑟3
𝑑𝑠
We know, 𝑣 =
𝑑𝑡 Figure 6: Magnetic field due to a
𝑑𝑆 𝑑𝑞 current element
Therefore, 𝑑𝑞𝑣 = 𝑑𝑞 𝑑𝑡 = 𝑑𝑡
𝑑𝑆 = 𝑖 𝑑𝑆

We can write from above equation (1) as

𝜇0 𝑖 (𝑑𝑆 × 𝑟)
⃗ =
𝑑𝐵
4𝜋 𝑟3
Net magnetic field due to current is

𝜇0 𝑖 𝑑𝑆 × 𝑟̂
⃗ =
𝐵 = ∫ 𝑑𝐵 ∫
4𝜋 𝑟2

Application of Biot-Savart Law: calculation of the value of B due to a

straight wire segment
𝐿
Let 𝑑𝑆 = 𝑑𝑧, therefore integration limit is ± 2 as shown in fig-7.

From the figure, r = √𝑧 2 + 𝑑2 and

𝑑
𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙 = sin(𝜋 − 𝜙) =
√𝑧 2 + 𝑑2
𝜇0 𝑖 𝑑𝑧 𝑠𝑖𝑛𝜙 𝜇0 𝑖 𝑑 Figure 7: B due to a straight wire
𝑑𝐵 = 2
= 𝑑𝑧
4𝜋 𝑟 4𝜋 (𝑧 + 𝑑) √𝑧 2 + 𝑑2 )

𝜇0 𝑖 𝑑
= 3 𝑑𝑧
4𝜋
(𝑧 + 𝑑)2
B can be found as
𝜇0 𝑖 𝐿
𝐿 𝐵= 1⁄
𝜇0 𝑖 𝑑 +
𝑑𝑧
2
4𝜋𝑑 𝐿2 2
2
( +𝑑 )
𝐵= ∫ 4
4𝜋 −𝐿 (𝑧 2 + 𝑑 2 )1⁄2
2
If 𝐿 >> 𝑑 then
+𝐿⁄2
𝜇0 𝑖 𝑧
𝐵= [ ] 𝜇0 𝑖
4𝜋𝑑 (𝑧 2 + 𝑑2 )1⁄2 𝐵≅
−𝐿⁄2 2𝜋𝑑

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 B.Sc. Engg. P-1 Odd Semester Exam 2018

Ampere’s law:
Advantage of Ampere’s law: Biot-Savart law can be
used to calculate B of any distribution of current.
Ampere’s law takes the advantages of symmetry of
current distribution present in certain problems to
simplify the calculation of B.

Statements of Ampere’s law: It states that “the line

integral of ∮ 𝐵. 𝑑𝑙 for a closed curve is equal to 𝜇0
times the net current I through the area bounded by
Figure-8: Currents enclosed by an Amperian loop
the curve”. It takes the following form

⃗ ⋅ 𝑑𝑙 = 𝜇0 𝑖
∮𝐵
Explanation: The equation can be written as shown for loop in fig-8a

∮ 𝐵 𝑑𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠 𝜙 = 𝜇0 (𝑖1 − 𝑖2 )
Similarly the law can be written as for the Amperian loop as shown in fig-8b

∮ 𝐵 𝑑𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = 𝜇0 (𝑖1 − 𝑖2 )

Application of Ampere’s law: Calculation of the value of B due to a straight wire segment carrying current 𝑖.
The magnetic field at a distance 𝑑 from the center of the wire (as shown in fig-9) can be calculated by considering
that the B has only tangential component.
Thus 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 1
Left side of ampere’s law becomes

∮ 𝐵 𝑑𝑠 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜃 = 𝐵 ∮ 𝑑𝑠 = 𝐵(2𝜋𝑑)
Since the circumference of a circle is 2𝜋𝑑
Therefore, Ampere’s law becomes
𝐵(2𝜋𝑑) = 𝜇0 𝐼 Figure-9: B due to current in a straight wire

𝜇0 𝑖
∴ 𝐵=
2𝜋𝑑

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 B.Sc. Engg. P-1 Odd Semester Exam 2018

Magnetic field due to a current carrying solenoid:

We know from Ampere’s law
⃗ . 𝑑𝑙 = 𝐵 𝑑𝑙 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝜙 = 𝜇0 𝐼 − − − − − − − (1)
∮𝐵
Left side of the above equation can be written as the sum of
four integrals as shown in fig-10
𝑏 𝑐 𝑑 𝑎
∮𝐵 ⃗⃗⃗ = ∫ 𝐵
⃗ . 𝑑𝑙 ⃗ . 𝑑𝑙 + ∫ 𝐵
⃗ . 𝑑𝑙 + ∫ 𝐵
⃗ . 𝑑𝑙 + ∫ 𝐵
⃗ . 𝑑𝑙 − −(2)
𝑎 𝑏 𝑐 𝑑 Figure 10: B due to a current carrying solenoid
nd
First integral on the right side is 𝐵ℎ (since 𝜙 = 0) but 2 and
4th integrals are zero because B is at right angle (𝜙 = 90 𝑑𝑒𝑔𝑟𝑒𝑒 ) with segments ‘bc’ and ‘da’. 3rd integral is also
zero because 𝐵 = 0 outside the solenoid.
Therefore we can write from equations (1) and (2) by putting the above values
⃗⃗⃗ = 𝐵ℎ = 𝜇0 𝐼
⃗ . 𝑑𝑙
∮𝐵
If ‘n’ is the number of turns per unit length then ‘nh’ is the total number of
turns in the solenoid, then
𝐵ℎ = 𝜇0 𝐼 = 𝜇0 𝑛𝑖ℎ
∴ 𝐵 = 𝜇0 𝑛𝑖

Construction and principle of operation of a galvanometer:

Construction: It consist of a permanent horse-shoe shaped
Magnet. A uniform magnetic field is produced in the gap as
Shown in fig-11. Figure-11: D' Arsonval galvanometer

A coil of thin enameled insulated wire is wounded on a non-magnetic

insulating frame. The frame is attached to a spring. The frame is also mounted on jewel bearing so that it can rotate
freely when a current is passing through the oil. A light pointer is attached to the moving coil. The pointer moves
on a scale as the coil rotates. The rotation of coil is prevented from continuous movement by a spring system. It
also provide restoring force when current is zero.

Principle of operation: the deflection (torque) is directly proportional to the amount of current passing through
the coil. Therefore the scale is linear. A rectangular coil is placed in uniform magnetic field and the coil arms (long
arms) are always perpendicular to the field B. The torque is given by

𝜏 = 𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵 , where B is the magnetic field, N is the number of turns and A = area of the coil

This torque is balanced by the spring having spring constant 𝑘

Therefore, 𝜏 = 𝑘∅

𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵 = 𝑘∅

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 B.Sc. Engg. P-1 Odd Semester Exam 2018

∅ = 𝑁𝑖𝐴𝐵/𝑘
For a given design N, A, B and k are constants. This means that the deflection is proportional to the current.
Characteristics of Moving Coil Meter Movement
(i) full-scale deflection current (Im),
(ii) internal resistance of the coil (Rm),
(iii) sensitivity (S).

(i) full-scale deflection current (Im) : It is the current needed to deflect the pointer all the way to the right to the last mark on
the calibrated scale. Typical values of Im for D’ Arsonval movement vary from 2 μA to 30 mA.

(ii) internal resistance of the coil (Rm): It is the dc ohmic resistance of the wire of the moving coil. A movement with
smaller Im has higher Rm and vice versa. Typical values of Rm range from 1.2 Ωfor a 30 mA movement to 2 k Ωfor a 50 A
movement.
(iii) sensitivity (S). It is also known as current sensitivity or sensitivity factor. It is given by the reciprocal of full
1
scale deflection current Im. 𝑆 = 𝐼 𝑜ℎ𝑚/𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑡
𝑚

Problem: An electron moves in a plane perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field. (ii) What is the path of the
electron as it moves through the magnetic field? (ii) If 𝐵 = 0.045 𝑇 and velocity of the electron is 9.4 × 10−6
𝑚/𝑠𝑒𝑐 and mass is 9.11 × 10−31 𝑘𝑔. Find the radius of the circle in which the electron travels.

Solution:

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