Chapter Three

Forces and Torques in

Magnetic Fields

Third Year Class

CE312

By: Dr. Ali A. Al-Azza

Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

3.1 Force on a Moving Charge:

A charge particle in motion in a magnetic field experienced a force at a right angle to its
velocity and the magnetic flux density. The complete expression is given by the cross
product:

𝐹̅𝑚 = 𝑄 𝑉̅ × 𝐵̅ [𝑁]

In an electric field, the force on a charge particle is:

𝐹̅𝑒 = 𝑄 𝐸̅ [𝑁]

The force on a moving particle due to combined electric and magnetic fields is obtained
easily by superposition:

𝐹̅ = 𝐹̅𝑒 + 𝐹̅𝑚

𝐹̅ = 𝑄 (𝐸̅ + 𝑉̅ × 𝐵̅) (𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐳 𝐅𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐞 𝐄𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧)

𝐹̅𝑚 cannot perform work on a moving charge as it at right angle to the direction of motion
of charge ( 𝐹̅𝑚 . 𝑑𝐿̅ = 0).

3.2. Force on a Differential Current Element:

The force on a charged particle moving through a steady magnetic field is:

𝐹̅ = 𝑄 𝑉̅ × 𝐵̅ [𝑁]

Then, the differential force exerted on a differential element of charge is:

𝑑𝐹̅ = 𝑑𝑄 𝑉̅ × 𝐵̅ [𝑁]

∵ 𝑑𝑄 = 𝜌𝑣 𝑑𝑣 ⟹ 𝑑𝐹̅ = 𝜌𝑣 𝑑𝑣 𝑉̅ × 𝐵̅ = ( 𝜌𝑣 𝑉̅ × 𝐵̅ ) 𝑑𝑣 [𝑁]

∵ 𝜌𝑣 𝑉̅ = 𝐽 ̅

∴ 𝑑𝐹̅ = (𝐽 ̅ × 𝐵̅)𝑑𝑣
̅ 𝑣=𝐾
∵ 𝐽𝑑 ̅ 𝑑𝑠 = 𝐼𝑑𝐿̅

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

∴ 𝑑𝐹̅ = (𝐾
̅ × 𝐵̅) 𝑑𝑠

𝑑𝐹̅ = 𝐼𝑑𝐿̅ × 𝐵̅
Finally,

𝐹̅ = ∮ 𝐼𝑑𝐿̅ × 𝐵̅ = −𝐼 ∮ 𝐵̅ × 𝑑𝐿̅
𝐿 𝐿

So, for part of the closed circuit and if the 𝐵̅ is uniform then:

𝐹̅ = 𝐼𝐿̅ × 𝐵̅

𝐹̅ = ∬(𝐾
̅ × 𝐵̅) 𝑑𝑠
𝑠

𝐹̅ = ∭(𝐽 ̅ × 𝐵̅) 𝑑𝑣
𝑣

Example 3.1:

Consider a square loop of wire in the 𝑧 = 0 plane carrying 2 mA in the field of an infinite
filament on the 𝑦 axis, as shown below. Find the total force on the loop.

Solution. The field produced in the plane of the loop by the straight filament is
𝐼 15
̅=
𝐻 𝑎̅𝑧 = 𝑎̅ A/m
2𝜋𝑥 2𝜋𝑥 𝑧
Therefore,

3 × 10−6
𝐵̅ = 𝜇0 𝐻
̅ = 4𝜋 × 10−7 𝐻
̅= 𝑎̅𝑧 T
𝑥
Then,

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

𝐹̅ = −𝐼 ∮ 𝐵̅ × 𝑑𝐿̅

Beginning with the left side:

3 2
𝑎̅𝑧 𝑎̅𝑧
𝐹̅ = −2 × 10−3 × 3 × 10−6 [∫ × 𝑑𝑥𝑎̅𝑥 + ∫ × 𝑑𝑦𝑎̅𝑦
𝑥=1 𝑥 𝑦=0 3

1 0
𝑎̅𝑧 𝑎̅𝑧
+∫ × 𝑑𝑥𝑎̅𝑥 + ∫ × 𝑑𝑦𝑎̅𝑦 ]
𝑥=3 𝑥 𝑦=2 1

1
= −6 × 10−9 [ ln 𝑥|13 𝑎̅𝑦 + 𝑦|20 (−𝑎̅𝑥 ) + ln 𝑥|13 𝑎̅𝑦 + 𝑦(−𝑎̅𝑥 )|02 ]
3
2 1
= −6 × 10−9 [( ln 3)𝑎̅𝑦 − 𝑎̅𝑥 + ( ln )𝑎̅𝑦 + 2𝑎̅𝑥 ]
3 3
= −8𝑎̅𝑥 𝑛𝑁

Thus, the net force on the loop is in the −a̅x direction.

H.W.1 :
2 𝑤𝑏
Let 𝐵̅ = 𝑎̅𝑥 [ 2] in free space. Find the total force on the loop defined by 𝜌 = 5,
𝑥 𝑚
0 < 𝜙 < 2𝜋 if it lies in the 𝑧 = 0 plane and the loop current is 10 𝑎̅𝜙 [𝐴].

Ans. [ 𝐹̅ = −40𝜋𝑎̅𝑧 [𝑁]]

3.3 Force Between Differential Current Elements:

The magnetic field at point 2 due to a current element at point 1 was found to be

𝐼1 𝑑𝐿̅1 × 𝑎̅𝑅12
̅2 =
𝑑𝐻 2
4𝜋𝑅12

Now, the differential force on a differential current element is

𝑑𝐹̅ = 𝐼𝑑𝐿̅ × 𝐵̅

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

and we apply this to our problem by letting 𝐵 be 𝑑𝐵2 (the differential flux density at point2
caused by current element 1), by identifying 𝐼 𝑑𝐿 as 𝐼2 𝑑𝐿2 , and by symbolizing

𝑑(𝑑𝐹̅2 ) = 𝐼2 𝑑𝐿̅2 × 𝑑𝐵̅2

Because 𝑑𝐵2 = 𝜇0 𝑑𝐻2 , we obtain the force between two differential current elements,
𝐼1 𝐼2
𝑑(𝑑𝐹̅2 ) = 𝜇0 2 𝑑𝐿̅2 × (𝑑𝐿̅1 × 𝑎̅𝑅12 )
4𝜋𝑅12

Example 3.2:

Two current filaments, 𝐼1 𝑎̅𝑧 and 𝐼2 𝑎̅𝑥, are located at 𝑥 = 0, 𝑦 = 0 and 𝑦 = 1, 𝑧 = 0 in

free space respectively. Find the total vector force on 𝐼2 .

Solution:

∴ 𝑑𝐹̅2 = 𝐼2 𝑑𝐿̅2 × 𝐵̅2

𝜇0 𝐼1
∵ 𝐵̅2 = 𝜇0 𝐻
̅2 = (𝑎̅𝐿1 × 𝑎̅𝑅12 )
2𝜋𝑅12

𝑅̅12 = 𝑥 𝑎̅𝑥 + 𝑎̅𝑦 ⟹ 𝑅12 = √𝑥 2 + 1

𝜇0 𝐼1 𝑥 𝑎̅𝑥 + 𝑎̅𝑦
∴ 𝐵̅2 = 𝜇0 𝐻
̅2 = (𝑎̅𝑧 × )
2𝜋 √𝑥 2 + 1 √𝑥 2 + 1
𝜇0 𝐼1
= (𝑥 𝑎̅𝑦 − 𝑎̅𝑥)
2𝜋 (𝑥 2 + 1)
𝜇0 𝐼1
∴ 𝑑𝐹̅2 = 𝐼2 𝑑𝑥 𝑎̅𝑥 × (𝑥 𝑎̅𝑦 − 𝑎̅𝑥)
2𝜋 (𝑥 2 + 1)
𝜇0 𝐼1 𝐼2
= (𝑥 𝑎̅𝑧) 𝑑𝑥
2𝜋 (𝑥 2 + 1)

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

∞
∞
𝜇0 𝐼1 𝐼2 𝜇0 𝐼1 𝐼2
∴ 𝐹̅2 = ∫ 𝑥 𝑑𝑥 𝑎̅𝑧 = 2
ln(𝑥 + 1) │−∞ 𝑎̅𝑧
2𝜋 (𝑥 2 + 1) 4𝜋
−∞

∴ 𝐹̅2 = 0 [𝑁]

3.4 Force and Torque on a Closed Circuit:

For the force on a filamentary closed circuit,

𝐹̅ = −𝐼 ∮ 𝐵̅ × 𝑑𝐿̅

and assume a uniform magnetic flux density:

𝐹̅ = −𝐼𝐵̅ × ∮ 𝑑 𝐿̅

However, ∮ 𝑑𝐿̅ = 0, and therefore the force on a closed filamentary circuit in a uniform
magnetic field is zero. If the field is not uniform, the total force need not be zero. This result
is also applicable to a circuit that may contain surface currents or volume current density as
well.

NOTE: For any real closed circuit carrying direct currents experiences a total vector force
of zero in a uniform magnetic field.

➢ Although the force is zero, the torque is generally not equal to zero.

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

In defining the torque, or moment, of a force, it is necessary to consider both an origin at or

about which the torque is to be calculated, and the point at which the force is applied. In
Figure below, a force 𝐹̅ at point 𝑃 is applied, for an
origin at 𝑂, with a rigid lever arm 𝑅̅ extending from 𝑂
to 𝑃. The torque about point 𝑂 is a vector whose
magnitude is the product of the magnitudes of 𝑅̅, of 𝐹̅ ,
and of the sine of the angle between these two vectors.
The direction of the vector torque 𝑇̅ is normal to both the
force 𝐹̅ and the lever arm 𝑅̅ and is in the direction of
progress of a right‐handed screw as the lever arm is
rotated into the force vector through the smaller angle.

𝑇̅ = 𝑅̅ × 𝐹̅

Or

𝑑𝑇̅ = 𝐼𝑑𝑆̅ × 𝐵̅

where 𝑑𝑆̅ is the vector area of the differential current loop.

If the product of the loop current and the vector area of the loop is defined as the differential
magnetic dipole moment d𝑚 ̅, with units of A ⋅ m2 . Thus

̅ = 𝐼𝑑𝑆̅
𝑑𝑚

and

𝑑𝑇̅ = 𝑑𝑚
̅ × 𝐵̅

Above equations are general results that hold for differential loops of any shape, not just
rectangular ones. The torque on a planar loop of any size or shape in a uniform magnetic
field is given by the same expression,

𝑇̅ = 𝐼𝑆̅ × 𝐵̅ = 𝑚
̅ × 𝐵̅

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

Example 3.3: consider the rectangular loop shown in Figure below. Find the torque that
applied by the field 𝐵̅o.

Solution:

✓ Find the torque by calculating the total force and torque contribution for each side.

On side 1:

𝐹̅1 = 𝐼𝐿1 × 𝐵0 = 4 × 10−3 (1 𝑎̅x) × (−0.6𝑎̅𝑦 + 0.8𝑎̅𝑧 )

= −3.2𝑎̅𝑦 − 2.4𝑎̅𝑧 mN

The negative of this result is obtained on side 3,

𝐹̅3 = 3.2𝑎̅𝑦 + 2.4𝑎̅𝑧 mN

Next, for side 2:

𝐹̅2 = 𝐼𝐿̅2 × 𝐵̅0 = 4 × 10−3 (2𝑎̅𝑦 ) × (−0.6𝑎̅𝑦 + 0.8𝑎̅𝑧 )

= 6.4𝑎̅𝑥 mN

with side 4 again providing the negative of this result,

𝐹̅4 = −6.4𝑎̅𝑥 mN

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Chapter Three Forces and Torques in Magnetic Fields

Because these forces are distributed uniformly along each of the sides, we treat each force
as if it were applied at the center of the side. The origin for the torque may be established
anywhere since the sum of the forces is zero, and we choose the center of the loop. Thus,

𝑇̅ = 𝑇̅1 + 𝑇̅2 + 𝑇̅3 + 𝑇̅4 = 𝑅̅1 × 𝐹̅1 + 𝑅̅2 × 𝐹̅2 + 𝑅̅3 × 𝐹̅3 + 𝑅̅4 × 𝐹̅4

= (−1𝑎̅𝑦 ) × (−3.2𝑎̅𝑦 − 2.4𝑎̅𝑧 ) + (0.5𝑎̅𝑥 ) × (6.4𝑎̅𝑥 )

+(1𝑎̅𝑦 ) × (3.2𝑎̅𝑦 + 2.4𝑎̅𝑧 ) + (−0.5𝑎̅𝜒 ) × (−6.4𝑎̅𝜒 )

= 2.4𝑎̅𝑥 + 2.4𝑎̅𝑥 = 4.8𝑎̅𝑥 mN ⋅ m

✓ Calculate the torque by using 𝑇̅ = 𝐼𝑆̅ × 𝐵̅.

The loop has dimensions of 1 m by 2 m and lies in the uniform field

𝐵̅0 = −0.6𝑎̅𝑦 + 0.8𝑎̅𝑧 T. The loop current is 4 mA, a value that is sufficiently small to
avoid causing any magnetic field that might affect 𝐵0 .

𝑇̅ = 4 × 10−3 [(1)(2)𝑎̅𝑧 ] × (−0.6𝑎̅𝑦 + 0.8𝑎̅𝑧 ) = 4.8𝑎̅𝑥 mN ⋅ m

Thus, the loop tends to rotate about an axis parallel to the positive 𝑥 axis. The small magnetic
field produced by the 4 mA loop current tends to line up with 𝐵0 .