Electromagnetic

fields & waves

EEEB 253
Chapter 7

Semester I 2013/14
27th May – 6th Sept. 2013
College of Engineering
Chapter 7: Magnetostatic fields 2

• Previous chapters – concentrate on the electric field (E and D); this chapter 
study the static magnetic field (B and H) vs.
• A few similarities between magnetic and electric fields  Most of the equations
derived for Efield can be readily used for Mfield
• This chapter considers Mfield in free space due to the direct current
• Development of motors, transformers, microphones, compasses, etc.
• Biot-Savart’s law CL and Ampere’s law  GL

1. Biot-Savart’s law
2. Ampere’s circuit law
3. Magnetic scalar and vector potentials

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.1: Biot-Savart’s law 3

• Biot-Savart’s law states that the magnetic field

intensity dH produced at a point P, by the
differential current, I dl, is proportional to the
product I dl and the sine of the angle α between
the element and the line joining P to the
element and is inversely proportional to the square of the distance R
between P and the element
•   
• Use right-hand rule to determine the direction of dH
• Represent the directions of I and H with cross and dot
• Efield – different charge distribution; Mfield – different
current distribution
Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.1: Biot-Savart’s law 4

• Example of line current – straight current carrying

conductor with length AB.
• , 
• Hence,

• This expression is applicable to any straight line. For an infinitely

long current carrying wire, point A (0, 0, -infinity), B(0, 0, infinity)
•
• P.E. 7.1

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.1: Biot-Savart’s law 5

• How to determine each parameter??

• Angles (α1, α2) – follow the flow of current – starting of current is α1
and end of current is α2
• a – UNIT VECTOR of the flow of current
• a – UNIT VECTOR pointing from the filament to the point
• a = ax a

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.1: Biot-Savart’s law 6

• Example 7.2

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.1: Biot-Savart’s law 7

• Example 7.2

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.2: Ampere’s circuit law 8

• Ampere’s circuit law states that the line integral of the tangential
component of H around a closed path is the same as the net current
Ienc enclosed by the path  comparison
• A special case of the Biot-Savart’s law – AL can be used to obtain H
only when symmetrical current distribution exists
• Stoke’s theorem , also,
• Therefore,  3rd Maxwell’s equation
• Infinite line current – to determine H at point P
• Assume an Amperian path through P

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.3: Magnetic scalar and vector
potential 9

• Relate electric field intensity to potential

• Magnetic flux density B is related to magnetic field intensity H
• Permeability of freespace
• Magnetic scalar potential Vm (in amperes), 
• Vector magnetic potential, A (in Wb/m) 
• Example 7.7

• Try to solve using Stoke’s theorem

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
7.3: Magnetic scalar and vector
potential 10

• Example 7.7
• Try to solve using Stoke’s theorem

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power
Chapter 7 Conclusion 11

• Biot-Savart’s law – general to solving the magnetic field

• Ampere’s law – applicable only when the current distribution is
symmetric
• Tutorial questions:- P.E.7.2, P.E. 7.7, 7.1, 7.3, 7.7, 7.19, 7.28,
7.29, 7.36

Ker Pin Jern © Universiti Tenaga Nasional, College of Engineering, Dept. of Electrical Power