Biot-Savart Law

I
dB(r)

The analogue of Coulombs Law is

the Biot-Savart Law

Consider a current loop (I)

For element d there is an

associated element field dB

r-r

r
d

dB(r )

o d x (r r' )
3
4p
r r'

dB perpendicular to both d and r - r

Inverse square dependence on distance
o/4p = 10-7 Hm-1
Integrate to get Biot-Savart Law

o d x (r r' )
B(r )
4p r r' 3

Biot-Savart Law examples

(1) Infinite straight conductor
d and r, r in the page
dB is into the page
B forms concentric circles about
the conductor

o I d x (r r' )
B(r )
4p r r' 3
d x (r r' ) d r r' sinq n
2

r r' r 2 z 2

q p / 2 a

d x (r r' )

d q

r r'

r z
O

r - r
r

a dB

sinq cosa

d r r' sinq
r r'

r
2

o I r dz
B
n
3/2

2
2
4p r z

r dz
2

z2

3/2

2
r

o I
n
2pr

z2

1/2

r dz
2

2 3/2

Biot-Savart Law examples

(2) Axial field of circular loop

Loop perpendicular to page, radius a

d out of page at top and r, r in the page

On-axis element dB is in the page,
perpendicular to r - r, at q to axis.

r - r
r
z

dB || n

q
dBz

Magnitude of element dB

o I d x r - r ' o I d
o I d
dB

n dB z
cosq
3
2
2
4p
4
p
4
p
r - r'
r - r'
r - r'
a
a
cosq

r - r'
a2 z2

1/2

Integrating around loop, only z-component of dB contributes net result

On-axis field of circular loop

d
o I

Bonaxis dB z

o I
4p r - r '

4p r - r '

cosq 2p a
2

Introduce axial distance z,

where |r-r|2 = a2 + z2

r - r

cosq d

o Ia

2 r - r'

Bonaxis

o I a 2

2a z
2

2 limiting cases

z 0
onaxis

o I
2a

and B

z a
onaxis

o Ia2
2z 3

r
z

dB

q
dBz

Magnetic dipole moment

The off-axis field of circular loop is
much more complex. For z >> a (only) it is
identical to that of the electric point dipole

p
4p or

2 cosq r sinq q

p
q+
q-

om
2 cosq r sinq q
3
4p r
where m p a 2 I or m p a 2 I z
B

p a 2 area enclosed by current loop

m = current times area vs p = charge times distance
m = magnetic dipole moment

q r
I