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Announcements
Midterm grades include your first 3 labs. If you are
missing one of them, this does impact your grade. If you
are missing lab because of Labor Day, make sure to do the
makeup later in the semester. Remember, the one lowest
lab score is dropped, and there are no makeups.
This is just wrong, unless you justify it:
r
r r
F =qv B

F =qvB
This is also wrong:

F =qv B

Weve been working with the effects of magnetic

fields without considering where they come from.
Today we
learn about sources of magnetic fields.
Todays agenda:
Magnetic Fields Due To A Current.
You must be able to calculate the magnetic field due to a moving charged
particle.

Biot-Savart Law.
You must be able to use the Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic field of a
current-carrying conductor (for example: a long straight wire).

Force Between Current-Carrying Conductors.

You must be able to begin with starting equations and calculate forces between
current-carrying conductors.

Biot-Savart Law: magnetic field of a current

element
Lets start with the magnetic field of a moving charged
particle.
r

It is experimentally
observed that a
moving point charge q
gives rise to a
magnetic field
r
r qv
r
0
B=
.
2
4 r

B
r
+

0 is a constant, and its value is

0=4x10-7 Tm/A

Remember: the direction of r is always from the source point (the thing
that causes the field) to the field point (the location where the field is
being measured.

Example: proton 1 has a speed v0 (v0<<c) and is

moving along the x-axis in the +x direction. Proton 2
has the same speed and is moving parallel to the xaxis in the x direction, at a distance r directly above
the x-axis. Determine the electric and magnetic forces
on proton 2 at the instant the protons pass closest to
each other.
y
This is example 28.1 in your text.
FE
v0
The electric force is
r
1 q1q2
FE =
r
2
4 r

r
1

r
1 e2
FE =
j
2
4 r
Homework Hint: slides 6-9!

r
v0

Alternative approach to calculating electric force. This

is better because we use the concept of field to
calculate both of electric and (later) magnetic forces.
At the position of proton 2 there is an electric field due
to proton 1.
y
r
1 q1
1 e
E1 =
r=
j
2
2
4 r
4 r
FE E
v0

This electric field exerts a force

on proton 2.
r
r
1 e
1 e2
FE =qE1 =e
j=
j
2
2
4 r
4 r

r
1

r
v0

Also at the position of proton 2 there is a magnetic field

due to proton 1.
r
r
q1v1 r
B1 =
4 r2
r
ev0i j
B1 =
4 r2

FE

r
ev0
B1 =
k
2
4 r

v0

B1

r
1

r
v0

Proton 2 feels a magnetic force due to the magnetic

field of proton 1.
r
r r
FB =q2v2 B1
r
ev0

FB =ev0 i
k
2
4 r

FE

v0

r
e2v02
FB =
j
2
4 r

FB

B1

What would proton 1 feel?

r
1

Caution! Relativity overrules Newtonian mechanics!

However, in this case, the force is equal & opposite.

r
v0

Both forces are in the +y direction. The ratio of their

magnitudes is
e2v20

2
4

r
FB

=
FE 1 e2

2
4

FE

FB
= v20
FE

v0

FB

B1

Later we will find that

r
1

1
= 2
c
z

r
v0

FB v20
Thus
= 2
FE c
If v0=106 m/s, then

10

FB
-5
=

1.11

10
FE 3108 2
6 2

FE

Dont you feel sorry for the

poor, weak magnetic force?

v0

What if you are a nanohuman, lounging on proton

1. You rightfully claim you are at rest. There is no
magnetic field from your proton, and no magnetic
force
on 2.dont like being confused,
If you

B1

close your eyes

Another nanohuman riding on proton 2 would say

I am at rest,
so cover
there is no
magnetic
force on my
and
your
ears.
proton, even though there is a magnetic field
from proton 1.
Or see here, here, and here for a hint about how to resolve the
This calculation says there
is a magnetic field and
paradox.

FB
r

r
v0

Todays agenda:
Magnetic Fields Due To A Current.
You must be able to calculate the magnetic field due to a moving charged
particle.

Biot-Savart Law.
You must be able to use the Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic field of a
current-carrying conductor (for example: a long straight wire).

Force Between Current-Carrying Conductors.

You must be able to begin with starting equations and calculate forces between
current-carrying conductors.

From the equation for the magnetic field of a moving

charged particle, it is easy to show that a current I in
a little length dl of wire gives rise to a little bit of
magnetic field.
r
dB
r
dl

r
r I dl r
dB= 0
4 r2
The Biot-Savart
Law
If you like to be more precise in your language,
substitute an infinitesimal for a little length and
a little bit of.
I often use ds instead of dl because the script l does
not display very well.

r
r =r r .
You may see the equation written using

Applying the Biot-Savart Law

dB
r

r
ds
I

r
r I dsr r
r
0

dB=
where r =
2
4 r
r
0 I ds sin
dB=
4
r2
r
r
B= dB

Homework Hint: if you have a tiny piece of a wire, just calculate dB; no need to
integrate.

Example: calculate the magnetic field at point P due to

a thin straight wire of length L carrying a current I. (P is
on the perpendicular bisector of the wire at distance a.)
P
r
r
ds
x

y
dB

r I dsr r
dB= 0
4 r2

r
ds r =ds sin k

x
z

0 I ds sin
dB=
4
r2

L
ds is an infinitesimal quantity in the direction of dx, so
0 I dx sin
dB=
4
r2

a
sin =
r

r = x +a

y
dB

P
r
r
ds
x

0 I dx a 0 I dx a
dB=
=
3
4 r
4 x2 +a2 3/2

x
z

0 I dx sin
dB=
4
r2

0 I dx a
B=
-L/2 4
2
2 3/2
x +a
L/2

0I a L/2
dx
B=
4 -L/2 x2 +a2 3/2

 0I a L/2
dx
B=
4 -L/2 x2 +a2 3/2

y
dB

P
r
r
ds
x

look integral up in tables, use

the web,or use trig
substitutions
dx
x
x2 +a2 3/2 = a2 x2 +a2 1/2

x
z

L
L/2

0I a
x
B=
4 a2 x2 +a2 1/2

-L/2

0I a
L/2
=
4 a2 L/2 2 +a2

1/2

-L/2

-L/2

+a

1/2

0I a
2L/2

B=
1/2
4 a2 L2/4+a2

y
dB

P
r
r
ds
x

x
z

0I L
1
B=
4a L2/4+a2 1/2
0I L
1
B=
2a L2 +4a2
0I
B=
2a

1
4a2
1+ 2
L

y
dB

P
r
r
ds
x

x
z

0I
B=
2a

1
4a2
1+ 2
L

0I
.
When L,B=
2a
0I
or B=
2r

The r in this equation has a different

meaning than the r in the diagram!

Magnetic Field of a Long Straight Wire

Weve just derived the equation for the

magnetic field around a long, straight
wire*
0 I
B=
2r
with a direction given by a new righthand rule.

I
B
r

*Dont use this equation unless you have a long, straight wire!

Looking down along the wire:

The magnetic field is not

constant.
At a fixed distance r from the wire, the magnitude
of the magnetic field is constant.
The magnetic field direction is always tangent to
the imaginary circles drawn around the wire, and
perpendicular to the radius connecting the wire
and the point where the field is being calculated.

Example: calculate the magnetic field at point O due to

the wire segment shown. The wire carries uniform
current I, and consists of two straight segments and a
circular arc of radius R that subtends angle .
A

Important technique, handy

for exams:
ds
C

R
Thanks to Dr. Waddill for the use of the
diagram.

The magnetic field due to

wire segments AA and CC
is zero because ds is r
parallel to along these
paths.

Important technique, handy

for exams:
ds
C

R
Thanks to Dr. Waddill for the use of the
diagram.

Along path AC, ds

is perpendicularr to
.
r
we use the usual xyz
ds r =-ds k Ifaxes.
r
ds r =ds

r I dsr r
dB= 0
4 r2
0I ds
dB=
4 R2

 0I ds
dB=
4 R2

0I ds
B=
4 R2

ds
C

R
Thanks to Dr. Waddill for the use of the
diagram.

0I
B=
ds
2
4R
0I
B=
R d
2
4R
0I
B=
d

4R
0I
B=

4R

Todays agenda:
Magnetic Fields Due To A Current.
You must be able to calculate the magnetic field due to a moving charged
particle.

Biot-Savart Law.
You must be able to use the Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic field of a
current-carrying conductor (for example: a long straight wire).

Force Between Current-Carrying Conductors.

You must be able to begin with starting equations and calculate forces between
current-carrying conductors.

Magnetic Field of a Current-Carrying Wire

It is experimentally observed that parallel wires exert
forces on each other when current flows.
I1

I2
F12

F21

I1

I2

F12

F21

Knowledge advances when Theory does battle with Real Data.Ian

Redmount

We showed that a long straight wire carrying a

current I gives rise to a magnetic field B at a
distance r from the wire given
by
I
B= 0
2r
The magnetic field of one wire exerts a force on
a nearby current-carrying wire.

I
B
r

The magnitude of the force depends

d
on the two currents, the length of
I1
I2 the wires, and the distance between
them.
0 I 1 I 2 L This is NOT a
L
F=
F12
F21
starting
2d
equation
The wires are electrically

neutral, so this is not a

Coulomb force.
Remember, the direction of the field is given another (different) right-hand rule: grasp the wire and point the
thumb of your right hand in the direction of I; your fingers curl around the wire and show the direction of the
magnetic field.

Example: use the expression for B due to a currentcarrying wire to calculate the force between two
current-carrying wires.
r
r r
d
F12 =I 1L1 B2
I1
I2
L
B = 0 I 2 k
F12
2
2d
B2
r
0 I 2

F12 =I 1Lj
k
y
L1
L2
2d

r
0 I 1I 2L
F12 =
i
2d
x
r
II
F
The force per unit length of wire 12
is = 0 1 2 i.
L
2d
Homework Hint: use this technique for
any homework problems with long
parallel wires!

r
r r
F21 =I 2L2 B1

d
I1

r
0 I1
B1 =k
2d
r
0 I 1

F21 =I 2Lj
k
2d
r
0 I 1I 2L
F21 =i
2d

I2
F12

F21
B1

L1

L2

r
II
F
The force per unit length of wire 21
is=- 0 1 2 i.
L
2d

If the currents in the wires are in the opposite direction,

the force is repulsive.
d
L

I1

I2

F12

F21

L1

L2

 0 I 1I 2L
F12 =F21 =
2d

d
I1

4 10-7 I 1I 2L
L
-7
F12 =F21 =
=210 I 1I 2
2d
d
The official definition of the Ampere:
1 A is the current that produces a
force of 2x10-7 N force per meter of
length between two long parallel
wires placed 1 meter apart in empty
space.

I2
F12

F21

L1

L2