UNIT-3

MAGNETOSTATICS
SHORT QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS

Q.1 State Biot-savart’s Law

Sol: Biot-Savart’s Law states that the differential magnetic field intensity dH produced at a point
‘P’ by a differential current element “Idl” is proportional to the product of Idl and sine of the
angle between the element and the line joining P to the element and is inversely proportional to
the square of distance R between the element.

𝐼𝑑𝑙 sin 𝛼 𝐼𝑑𝑙 sin 𝛼 1

I.e. 𝑑𝐻 𝛼 𝑜𝑟 𝑑𝐻 = 𝐾 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝐾 = 4𝜋
𝑅2 𝑅2

𝐼𝑑𝑙 sin 𝛼
So 𝑑𝐻 = .
4𝜋𝑅2

𝑰𝒅𝒍×𝑹
In vector form 𝒅𝑯 = 4𝜋𝑅3

Q.2 Express Biot-Savart’s Law for line, surface and volume currents.
𝐼𝑑𝑙×𝑅 𝐼𝒅𝒍×𝒂𝑹
Sol: 𝑯 = ∫ 4𝜋𝑅3 = ∫ (𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡)
4𝜋𝑅2

𝐾𝒅𝒔 × 𝒂𝑹
𝑯=∫ (𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡)
4𝜋𝑅2
𝑱𝑑𝑣 × 𝒂𝑹
𝑯=∫ (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡)
4𝜋𝑅2

Q.3. Write the expression for magnetic field due to straight current carrying conductor.
𝐼
Sol: 𝑯 = 4𝜋𝜌 (𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼2 − 𝑐𝑜𝑠𝛼1 )𝒂𝝋

Where 𝒂𝝋 = 𝒂𝒍 × 𝒂𝝆 , 𝒂𝒍 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑖𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑒𝑛𝑡 and

𝒂𝝆 𝑖𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑡 𝑣𝑒𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑎𝑙𝑜𝑛𝑔 𝑝𝑒𝑟𝑝𝑒𝑛𝑑𝑖𝑐𝑢𝑙𝑎𝑟 𝑓𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑎𝑥𝑖𝑠 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑜𝑛𝑑𝑢𝑐𝑡𝑜𝑟 𝑡𝑜 𝑓𝑖𝑒𝑙𝑑 𝑝𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑡
Q.4. Write the expression for magnetic field due to straight infinite and semi-infinite
current carrying conductors.

Sol: For an infinite conductor A(0, 0, -∞) and B(0, 0, ∞)

𝐼
𝛼1 = 1800 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛼2 = 00 , 𝑆𝑜 𝑯 = 𝒂
2𝜋𝜌 𝝋

For a semi-infinite conductor A(0, 0, 0) and B(0, 0, ∞)

𝐼
𝛼1 = 900 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝛼2 = 00 , 𝑆𝑜 𝑯 = 𝒂
4𝜋𝜌 𝝋

Q.5 State Ampere’s circuit Law and derive Maxwell’s equation from it.

Sol: Ampere’s circuit Law states that the line integral of magnetic field intensity H around a
closed path is equal to the net current enclosed by the path.

I.e. ∮ 𝑯. 𝒅𝒍 = 𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = ∬ 𝑱. 𝒅𝒔. But from Stoke’s Theorem ∮ 𝑯. 𝒅𝒍 = ∬(𝛁 × 𝑯). 𝒅𝒔

Hence 𝛁 × 𝑯 = 𝑱 is called Maxwell’s Equation.

Q.6 Write the limitations of Ampere’s Law.

Sol: Ampere’s Law is only applicable to find out the magnetic field due to symmetrical current
distributions.

Q.7 Justify the statement . 𝑩 = 𝟎 .

Sol: Unlike electric charges magnetic isolated poles do not exist. So, the net amount of fluxes
passing through a closed surface is zero as the source and destination points are one.

I.e. ∯ 𝑩. 𝒅𝒔 = 0

 ∭(𝛁. 𝑩)𝑑𝑣 = 0 𝑜𝑟 𝛁. 𝑩 = 𝟎

Q.8 Write the Maxwell’s Equations in static fields.

Sol:
Q.9 Write the expressions related to magnetic scalar and vector potentials.

Sol: Magnetic scalar potential V m : 𝑯 = −𝛁𝑉𝑚 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑱 = 0

Magnetic vector potential : 𝑩 = 𝛁 × 𝑨

𝜇0 𝐼𝒅𝒍
And ∫ (𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡)
4𝜋𝑅

𝜇0 𝐾𝒅𝒔
𝑯=∫ (𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑓𝑎𝑐𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡)
4𝜋𝑅
𝜇0 𝑱𝑑𝑣
𝑯=∫ (𝑣𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒 𝑒𝑙𝑒𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡)
4𝜋𝑅

10. Define scalar magnetic Potential.

The scalar magnetic potential Vm can be defined for source free region where J
i.e. current
density is zero.

Q.11 what is an Amperian path?

Sol: An Amperian path is a closed path L such that at every point of the path

(i) H and dl must have same directions or perpendicular to each other.

(ii) On Amperian path H becomes a constant.

Q.12 Write the expression for magnetic field to an infinite current sheet.
𝐾
Sol: The magnetic field due to an infinite current sheet is given by 𝐻 = (𝒂𝒍 × 𝒂𝒏 )
2

Where K is the current density in A/m. al = direction of flow of current

And an = unit vector along normal from current sheet to field point.