LECTURE 17

MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A POINT CHARGE

MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO A CURRENT

ELEMENT

PHYSICS 72 1
Objectives

Evaluate the magnetic field vector at a given Evaluate the magnetic field vector at a given
point in space due to a moving point charge point in space due to an infinitesimal current
element
 Source point Field point

  +
Point P
Source point: the location of a moving charge at a given instant

Field point: a point where we want to find the field

Question: What is the magnetic field at point P due to

the moving charge?
PHYSICS 72 3
Magnetic Field of a Moving Point Charge
For a point charge with constant velocity:

 
 

Permeability of free space:

PHYSICS 72 4
Magnetic Field of a Moving Point Charge

(Biot-Savart Law)
(“Bee-oh” and “Suh-var”)

PHYSICS 72 5
Magnetic Field of a Moving Point Charge

Direction: Use Right Hand Rule

PHYSICS 72 6
Coulomb’s Law vs. Biot-Savart Law
 

Coulomb’s Law:

Biot-Savart Law:
 

PHYSICS 72 7
Magnetic Field of a Moving Point Charge
▪The magnetic field lines circle
around the charge.

▪The direction of the field lines can

be visualized using the right-hand
screw rule.

PHYSICS 72 8
Magnetic Field of a Moving Point Charge
▪For a positive point charge, point
the thumb of your right hand in the
direction of the velocity.
▪Your fingers should curl around the
charge pointing to the direction of
the field lines.
▪If charge is negative, the field lines
are in the opposite direction. Note:
You may also use left-hand rule
(LHR).

PHYSICS 72 9
Magnetic Field of a Moving Point Charge
View from behind the charge

PHYSICS 72 10
 

PHYSICS 72 11
  

PHYSICS 72 12
What is the magnetic field at point P?

+y

+x

PHYSICS 72 13
What is the magnetic field
at point P?  

 
+y
 

 
+x

PHYSICS 72 14
What is the magnetic field at point P?

+y

+x

PHYSICS 72 15
  

What is the magnetic field

at point P?

+y

+x
PHYSICS 72 16
What is the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at
point P due to the two moving charges?

+3e
P
 

2
L
+z

+4e
 
+y
L

PHYSICS 72 17
Solution
 

 
+3e
P
 

 
2
L
+z  

+4e
 
+y
L

PHYSICS 72 18
 Source point Field point

Point P

Question:
What is the magnetic field at point P?
PHYSICS 72 19
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
Biot-Savart Law
(For Current Elements)

Direction: Use RHR

PHYSICS 72 20
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
Assumption:
Steady current condition holds!
(e.g. charges move at a constant speed)

 
 

Field point

Current-carrying wire

PHYSICS 72 21
Magnetic Field of a Current Element
▪Point the thumb of your right
hand in the direction of the
current.
▪Your fingers should curl
around the current element
pointing to the direction of
the field lines.

PHYSICS 72 22
Magnetic Field of a Current Element

PHYSICS 72 23
EXAMPLES
PHYSICS 72 25
 

PHYSICS 72 26
PHYSICS 72 27
 

dz

PHYSICS 72 28
PHYSICS 72 29
    

1  

PHYSICS 72 30
  

1  

PHYSICS 72 31
Example
A straight wire carries a 10.0-A current as shown. ABCD is a
rectangle with point D in the middle of a 1.10-mm segment
of the wire and point C in the wire. Find the magnitude and
direction of the magnetic field due to this segment at
(a) point A
(b) point B
(c) point C

PHYSICS 72 32
Solution  

PHYSICS 72 33