CHAPTER 29

MAGNETIC FIELDS
𝐸 Electric Field  Electric Force 𝐹𝐸 = 𝑞𝐸

𝐵 Magnetic Field  Magnetic Force 𝐹𝐵 = ?

 What produces Magnetic Fields?
Permanent Magnets: Metals with two Magnetic Poles
ElectroMagnets: Moving electrical charges  Currents
Magnetic Field Lines

Magnetic poles always found in pairs, North and South poles.

There are NO MAGNETIC MONOPOLES! A single pole does not exist!
If you divide a magnet into two, then you have two smaller magnets.
 Magnetic Force: 𝐹𝐵
Magnetic force on a charged particle moving with velocity 𝑣 depends on;
1) The charge q and its speed v
2) The directions of velocity 𝑣 and magnetic field 𝐵
3) If 𝑣 ∥ 𝐵 then 𝐹𝐵 = 0
4) If there is an angle between 𝑣 and 𝐵, 𝐹𝐵 Ʇ 𝑣 & 𝐵

The magnitude of the force:

So, it is a vector product:

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵)
Right-hand Rule
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵)
The SI unit of 𝐵 field
The SI unit of magnetic field is Tesla [T].

Another unit is Gauss [G]. Earth’s magnetic field is 1 Gauss.

 Earth’s Magnetic Field

Compass is a thin bar magnet

on a low friction pivot.

Compass works by using the

magnetic field of Earth.

Its north pole is attracted

toward the south magnetic
pole of Earth. That is the
geographic north pole (Arctic
Region).
Differences between E-field and B-field
𝐹𝐸 = 𝑞𝐸 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵)

1) 𝐹𝐸 ∥ 𝐸 parallel, 𝐹𝐵 ⊥ 𝐵 perpendicular

2) 𝐹𝐸 does not depend on the velocity of the charged particle,

𝐹𝐵 acts on a charged particle only when it has velocity.

3) 𝐹𝐸 does work in displacing a charged particle.

𝐹𝐵 is always perpendicular to the motion (velocity). So it does no
work when the particle is displaced.

Magnetic force cannot change the kinetic energy (speed) of the

particle, but it can only change the direction of motion.
Example:

magnitude

Decide the direction with the right-hand rule: −z direction

 Example: 2nd way: vector notation

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵)

b) Find acceleration.
in −z direction
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑚𝑒 𝑎
 Remember Circular Motion from Physics 101
𝑣2
Centripetal Acceleration: 𝑎𝑟 =
𝑟
𝑚𝑣 2
Centripetal Force: 𝐹𝑟 = 𝑚𝑎𝑟 =
𝑟

Fr only changes only the direction of the

velocity vector.
Radius: r

The magnitude of the velocity vector (speed)

does not change.
 Motion of Charged Particles in uniform B-field
A charged particle in a uniform magnetic field 𝑣 ⊥ 𝐵
moves in circular motion on the plane perpendicular to
the magnetic field.
𝐹𝐵 magnetic force is the centripetal force.
Looking in the direction of 𝐵, the rotation is B-field into the page
counterclockwise for +q and clockwise for −q charges.

𝑣 ⊥ 𝐵 therefore θ = 90°

Radius of the path

As v ↑ then r ↑ As B ↑ then r ↓
Period and Frequency
Radius of path

Period (T) is the time for one revolution. (s)

Frequency ( f ) is the number of revolution per unit time.(1/s = Hz)

As B ↑ then f ↑, the particle turns more rapidly.

Angular frequency (ω) is also called the cyclotron frequency. (rad/s)

If there is an angle φ between 𝑣 and 𝐵 that is 0°< φ < 90°
Then the path of the particle is an helix, whose axis is parallel to 𝐵.

Magnetic field is in x-direction.

𝑎𝑥 = 0, 𝑣𝑥 = 𝑣∥ = 𝑣 cos 𝜙 is constant.

𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵) no component in x-direction

𝑣⊥ = 𝑣 sin 𝜙 = 𝑣𝑦 2 + 𝑣𝑧 2

𝑚𝑣⊥
p 𝑟= Radius of the helix
𝑣 𝑞𝐵

φ 2𝜋𝑚
𝐵 𝑝 = 𝑣∥ 𝑇 = 𝑣 cos 𝜙 Pitch of the helix
|𝑞|𝐵
Example:

Example: A magnetron in a microwave oven emits electromagnetic waves with

frequency f = 2450 MHz. What magnetic field strength is required for electrons to
move in circular paths with this frequency?
Example:

First, find the speed of the electron based on the potential difference
Example: Mass Spectrometer
This device is used to measure the mass of an ion. A
positive ion is accelerated by a potential difference V,
enters a chamber of uniform magnetic field, travels
through a semicircle of radius r, and strikes a detector
at a distance x.
B = 80 mT, V = 1000 V, q = 1.6x10-19 C, x = 1.6254 m, m = ?
Example:
Example:

Period

Pitch
Lorentz Force Law
When both 𝐸 and 𝐵 fields are present, the net force on the particle is
called the electromagnetic force or the Lorentz Force.
𝐹 = 𝐹𝐸 + 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞𝐸 + 𝑞 𝑣 × 𝐵

𝐹 =𝑞 𝐸+𝑣×𝐵

Example: Velocity Selector

Selects only straight path
𝑞𝑣𝐵 = 𝑞𝐸
Example: Velocity Selector
Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Wire
Force on a single moving particle: 𝐹𝐵 = 𝑞(𝑣 × 𝐵)
Current in a wire: many charged particles in motion 𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼(𝐿 × 𝐵)
 Thick Wire in Uniform B-field
Remember from Chapter 27:
When there are n number of charged particles
per unit volume, moving with speed vd
𝑄 = 𝑛𝑞𝐴𝐿 𝐼 = 𝑛𝑞𝐴𝑣𝑑
𝐹𝐵 = 𝑄 𝑣𝑑 × 𝐵 = 𝑛𝑞𝐴𝐿 𝑣𝑑 × 𝐵

𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼(𝐿 × 𝐵) Force on a straight wire in uniform magnetic field

Current is not a vector, its direction is given with the length vector 𝐿

If 𝐿 ∥ 𝐵 then 𝐹𝐵 = 0, If 𝐿 ⊥ 𝐵 then 𝐹𝐵 is maximum.

Example: A straight, horizontal length of copper wire has a current I = 28 A
through it. What are the magnitude and direction of the minimum magnetic field
needed to suspend the wire—that is, to balance the gravitational force on it? The
linear density (mass per unit length) of the wire is 46.6 g/m.

𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼(𝐿 × 𝐵) for min. B-field 𝐿 ⊥ 𝐵, θ = 90°

𝐼𝐿𝐵 = 𝑚𝑔
𝑚𝑔
𝐵=
𝐿 𝐼
Magnetic Force on a Current-carrying wire: General From
For an arbitrary shape of wire  Integral

The magnetic force exerted on a small segment of

b vector length 𝑑 𝑠 is;

𝑑 𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼(𝑑 𝑠 × 𝐵)

The total magnetic force on the wire is;

𝑏
a 𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼 (𝑑𝑠 × 𝐵)
𝑎

Integral limits should be the end points of the wire.

 1. If the B-field is uniform (constant) it can go out
of the integral
𝑏
𝐹𝐵 = 𝐼 𝑑 𝑠 × 𝐵 = 𝐼(𝐿′ × 𝐵)
𝑎
L’ is the distance from a to b

 𝐹𝐵 2. If the wire forms a closed loop:

𝑑𝑠 = 0 𝐹𝐵 = 0
 𝐹𝐵
The net magnetic force acting on any closed
current loop in a uniform magnetic field is zero.
Example:
 𝐹𝐵2
𝑑 𝑠2

𝑑𝜃 Total force on a closed loop is always zero.

For the straight part: 𝐿1 ⊥ 𝐵
2𝑅

𝑑𝑠1 𝐿1 = 𝑑 𝑠1 = 2𝑅 𝑖
0
 𝐹𝐵1 𝐹𝐵1 = 𝐼 𝐿1 × 𝐵 = 𝐼 2𝑅𝑖 × 𝐵𝑗 = 2IRB 𝑘

For the curved part: 𝑑𝑠2 = 𝑅𝑑𝜃 (Arc length)

𝜋 𝜋
𝐹𝐵2 = 𝐼 𝑑 𝑠2 × 𝐵 , 𝐹𝐵2 = 𝐼 𝑅𝑑𝜃 𝐵 sin 𝜃 = 𝐼𝑅𝐵 sin 𝜃𝑑𝜃 = 𝐼𝑅𝐵 − cos 𝜃 |𝜋0 = 2𝐼𝑅𝐵
0 0

𝐹𝐵2 = −2IRB 𝑘 𝐹𝐵1 + 𝐹𝐵2 = 0

 Example: The conductor, carrying current I to the left, has three segments: (1) a straight
segment with length L perpendicular to the plane of the figure, (2) a semicircle with radius
R, and (3) another straight segment with length L parallel to the x-axis.
Find the total magnetic force on this conductor.
The straight part (1):

𝐿1 ∥ 𝐵, 𝐹1 = 0
2
The straight part (3):
𝐹3 = 𝐼 𝐿3 × 𝐵 = 𝐼(−𝐿𝑖) × (𝐵𝑘) = ILB 𝑗

3 1
 Example: The conductor, carrying current I to the left, has three segments: (1) a straight
segment with length L perpendicular to the plane of the figure, (2) a semicircle with radius
R, and (3) another straight segment with length L parallel to the x-axis.
Find the total magnetic force on this conductor.
The curved part(2):
𝑑𝐹2 = 𝐼 𝑑𝑠 𝐵 = 𝐼(𝑅𝑑𝜃)𝐵
2

3 1

Total Magnetic Force:

 Remember Torque from Physics 101
When you want to loosen a nut with a wrench,
the easiest way is to apply a force that is
perpendicular to r vector on the most distant
point to the rotation axis O (pivot point).

The abilitiy of F to rotate an object about an axis is the vector quantity

called torque [N.m] and it depends on the angle and perp. distance.

d is called the moment arm, perpendicular distance from the pivot point to
the line of action of F.
Torque on a current loop in a Uniform B-field
A current carrying loop of wire placed in a magnetic field
experiences torque due to magnetic forces.
Torque tends to rotate the loop about the central axis.

No magnetic forces act on sides 1 and 3 because these are

parallel to the B-field.
Magnetic forces acting on the sides 2 and 4 are same in
magnitude, opposite in direction and not directed along the
same line of action. So, they give rotation about the pivot O.
 Torque on a current loop

(A = ab is the area of the loop)

𝜏max is valid only when the B-field is parallel to the

plane of the loop (or area vector 𝐴 ⊥ 𝐵).
The rotation starts in order to align 𝐴 and 𝐵.
B-field makes an angle θ < 90° with 𝐴. Moment arm =
 Torque on a current loop
𝜏 =𝐼 𝐴×𝐵 Area vector Ʇ to loop

Curl your right-hand fingers in the direction of current.

Your thumb gives the direction of the area vector 𝐴 and
magnetic dipole moment 𝜇.
𝜇 = 𝐼𝐴 𝜏 =𝜇×𝐵
Coils (Bobin): N number of loops, N turns of wire
N times the moment of a single loop: 𝜇 = 𝑁𝐼 𝐴
N turn
𝜏 = 𝜇 × 𝐵 = 𝑁𝐼 𝐴 × 𝐵 total torque on a coil with N turns Coil

These results are valid for a loop of any shape and orientation.
 Potential energy of a magnetic dipole
When a magnetic dipole changes orientation in a magnetic field, the B-field
does work on it and there is a corresponding change in potential energy.
Potential energy U is minimum when 𝜇 and 𝐵 are parallel and it is maximum
when 𝜇 and 𝐵 are antiparallel (opposite direction). Therefore potential
energy depends on the orientation of the magnetic dipole in the B-field.

𝑈 = −𝜇 ∙ 𝐵 𝑈 = −𝜇𝐵 cos 𝜃
for θ = 0°
for θ = 180°
U=0 for θ = 90° Torque and rotation brings the system to minimum
potential energy position, aligns 𝜇 and 𝐵.
Example: A circular coil 5 cm in radius, with 30 turns of wire, lies in a horizontal
plane. It carries a counterclockwise (as viewed from above) current of 5.00 A. The coil
is in a uniform 1.20-T magnetic field directed toward the right. Find the magnitudes of
the magnetic moment and the torque on the coil.

𝜏 =𝜇×𝐵  into the page: clockwise rotation to align 𝜇 and 𝐵

b) If this coil rotates from its initial orientation to one in which 𝜇 and 𝐵 are parallel,
what is the change in potential energy?
Example: Two concentric, circular wire loops, of radii r1 = 20 cm and r2 = 30 cm, are
located in an xy plane; each carries a clockwise current of 7 A. (a) Find the magnitude
of the net magnetic dipole moment of the system. (b) Repeat for reversed current in
the inner loop.