Problem 5.

25 A cylindrical conductor whose axis is coincident with the z-axis has

an internal magnetic field given by
2
H = φ̂φ [1 − (4r + 1)e−4r ] (A/m) for r ≤ a
r
where a is the conductor’s radius. If a = 5 cm, what is the total current flowing in the
conductor?
Solution: We can follow either of two possible approaches. The first involves the use
of Ampère’s law and the second one involves finding J from H and then I from J.
We will demonstrate both.

Approach 1: Ampère’s law

Applying Ampère’s law at r = a,
Z
H · dℓℓ|r=a = I
n

C
Z 2π ¯
2
φ̂φ [1 − (4r + 1)e ] · φ̂φ r d φ ¯¯
−4r
¯
=I
0 r r=a
I = 4π [1 − (4a + 1)e−4a ] (A).
For a = 5 cm, I = 0.22 (A).

Approach 2: H → J → I

J = ∇×H
1 ∂
= ẑ (rHφ )
r ∂r
1 ∂
= ẑ (2[1 − (4r + 1)e−4r ])
r ∂r
1
= ẑ [−8e−4r + 8(4r + 1)e−4r ]
r
= ẑ 32e−4r .
Z Z a
I= J · ds = ẑ 32e−4r · ẑ 2π r dr
S r=0
Z a
= 64π re−4r dr
r=0
64π
= [1 − (4a + 1)e−4a ]
16
= 4π [1 − (4a + 1)e−4a ] (A).