Lecture 7:

Steady Magnetic Fields I

BIOT-SAVART LAW, AMPERE’S LAW, CURL, STOKES’
THEOREM, MAGNETIC FLUX/ FLUX DENSITY,

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 1

Sources of Magnetic Field
• Permanent Magnets
• Linearly-changing electric field
• Direct Current

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 2

Biot-Savart Law
• Magnetic fields produced by generated by
a steady differential current element IdL is
given by:
. dH =
I
dL 
( r − r ')
4 r − r '
2
r −r '
I dL  ( r − r ')
= ( Ampere / meter )
4 r −r '
3

I | dL || ( r − r ' ) | sin 
| dH |=
4 r −r '
3

• Remarks:
• Magnitude is inversely proportional to
square of distance from differential element
to test point
• Direction follows the right-hand rule
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 3
Magnetic Field due to Closed
Circuit
• Differential current element cannot
be isolated

•To determine the magnetic field at a .

point due to a closed circuit,
integrate over the entire closed path

I dL  ( r − r ')
H=  ( Ampere / meter )
4 r −r '
3

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 4

Magnetic Field due to
Distributed Sources
Biot-Savart Law can be modified for volume and surface current
distribution by replacing IdL by Jdv and KdS, respectively

J  ( r − r ') dv H =
K  ( r − r ') dS
H=
4 r − r '
3
S
4 r −r '
3
vol

Volume Current Distribution Surface Current Distribution

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 5
 Magnetic Field Example
Example: An infinitely long straight conducting
filament at the z-axis is carrying a direct current I
directed along +z direction. Determine the
magnetic field intensity at a point P on the xy
(0,0, z ) IdL plane that is  units away from the z-axis.
   
r' R = r − r'
• Distance Vector: r − r ' =  a − z ' az

 • Differential current element: Idz ' az

r dH
x • Differential magnetic field:

Idz ' az  (  a − z ' az )

dH =
4 (  2 + z 2 )3/2

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 6

 Magnetic Field Example
Integrating over differential path along z: Note: The integration would
be easier if a change of variable
 Idz' a z  (a ρ − z' a z ) is used: let z' =  tan  and
H= 
− 4( 2 + z'2 ) 3 / 2 integrate with respect to 
from -90 to 90.
I  dz' a 
= 
4 − ( 2 + z' 2 ) 3 / 2
  
Ia   z'  I
=  = a
4   2   + z ' 2  2
 − 


Magnetic field rotates around

the wire!
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 7
 Ampere’s Circuital Law
The line integral of H about any closed path is exactly equal to the direct
current enclosed by the path.

I=  H dL Project H-field at some point in

space onto some “small” segment
of an arbitrarily chosen closed
path
We use the “thumb” of right
hand to denote (conventional)
current direction

H dL
Similar to Gauss’s Law, this is useful
if we can exploit some symmetry of
the current distribution

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 8

Ampere’s Circuital Law
Example: Use Ampere’s Law to solve for H of an infinitely long current
filament
2 2
 H  dL =    d =    d = 2  = I
0 0

I
H = H
2
I
I
H= a
2
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 9
Ampere’s Circuital Law
Example: Use Ampere’s Law to solve for H of a uniform sheet of surface
current

 H • dL = I
(Hx1)L + (-Hx2)L = KyL
Hx1 – Hx2 = Ky

Due to symmetry:

Hx = ½ Ky for z > 0

Hx = - ½ Ky for z < 0

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 10

 Ampere’s Circuital Law
Example: Use Ampere’s Law to solve for H of a uniform sheet of surface
current

Thus, we only have Hx.

or H = ½ K x aN
where aN is a unit vector
normal to the current sheet

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 11

 Ampere’s Circuital Law
Example: Use Ampere’s Law to solve for H of a uniform sheet of surface
current
If several currents are present, use superposition to find the resultant magnetic
field.

Field due to -K ay at z = h:
• ½ K ax at z < h
• -½ K ax at z > h

Field due to K ay at z = 0
• -½ K ax at z < 0
H = K ax 0 < z < h
• ½ K ax at z > 0
H = 0 z < 0, z > h

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 12

 Ampere’s Circuital Law on a
Differential Surface Area
• Consider a very small square loop
z centered at point P
4 3 • We assume that some current produces a
reference value for H at point P
x .
P

1 y 2
H 0 = H 0, x ax + H 0, y a y + H 0, z az

y
• Applying Ampere’s Circuital Law, we get:

I enclosed =  H dL = i = all sides

H i Li
x

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 Ampere’s Circuital Law on a
Differential Surface Area
• Consider side 1 → 2:
z
H y  1 
H y ,1− 2 = H y0 +  x 
4 3 x  2 
x .
 H y  1  
( H L )
P
=  H y0 +  x   y
1 y 2 1− 2
 x  2  
• Consider side 2 → 3:
y
H x  1 
H x ,2−3 = H x 0 +  y 
y  2 
 H x  1  
x
( H L )
2 −3
=  H x0 +  y   ( −x )
y  2  


EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 14

 Ampere’s Circuital Law on a
Differential Surface Area
• Continuing on the two remaining sides and
z adding the results:

 H y H x 
( )
4 3
H L =  −  xy = J z xy
x .
P
i = sides
i
 x y 

1 y 2
• For very small closed loop, we can
y
assume that current density is uniform
• Jz is the component scalar of the current
density and the direction is perpendicular
to the surface of closed loop
x

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 Curl Operator
• If we take the limit of the differential area to approach 0, we get:
1  H y H x 
lim
xy → 0 xy
 ( )
H L =  −  = Jz
i = sides
i
 x y 
• Applying Ampere’s Law to an arbitrary surface area ∆S, we get:

 H dL =  H −
H y   H x H z   H y H x 
lim  ax +  −  ay +  −  az
z

S → 0 S  y z   z x   x y 

= Jxax + Jyay +Jzaz

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 16

 Curl Operator
• Definition: For any vector field A, the curl of A is defined as:

A dL
( curl A ) N = lim 
S N →0 S N
The curl of any vector is the limit of the quotient of the closed-line
integral of the vector about a small path in a plane normal to that
component desired and the area enclosed, as the path shrinks to zero.
•In terms of  operator, the curl is expressed as:

ax ay az Point form of Ampere’s Circuital Law:

curl A =   A =
   H = J
x x z For static electric fields:
Ax Ay Az
 E  dL = 0 →   E = 0
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Curl Operator (Physical
Interpretation)

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Curl Operation in Other
Coordinate System
• Cartesian:
 H z H y   H x H z   H y H x 
curl H =  −  ax +  − ay +  −  az
 y x   z x   x y 
• Cylindrical:

 1 H z H   H  H z   1  (  H ) 1 H  
curl H =  −  a +  −  a +  −  az
   z   z   
    
• Spherical:
1   ( H sin  ) H  1  1 H r  ( rH  ) 
curl H =  −  ar +  −  a
r sin      r  sin   r 
   
1   ( rH ) H r 
+  −  a
r  r  

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 19

Stokes’ Theorem

• Recall: I =  J dS
 H dL =  (   H ) dS
S
• Therefore, we can rewrite Ampere’s Law as
S
•The evaluation of the line integral should follow the direction according
to the right-hand rule.
•This relates the closed line integral to a surface integral.

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Stokes’ Theorem
Example: Given the field

H = 6r sin ar + 18r sin  cos a

Evaluate both sides of Stoke’s Theorem for the
portion of the cone  = 0.1 bounded by r = 2, r
= 4,  = 0 and  = 0.3. Let the direction of dS
be a.

Stokes Theorem:

 H  dL =  (  H )dS
S

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Stokes’ Theorem (Left Side)
 H  dL =  H  dL +  H  dL +  H  dL +  H  dL
a to b b to c c to d d to a
0.3 4
=  (18r sin  cos )(r sin ) =,r = 2 d +  6r sin  =0.3 dr
0 2
0 2
+  (18r sin  cos )(r sin ) =,r = 4 d +  6r sin  =0 dr
0.3 4
4
0.3 2
r
= 18(2 2 ) sin 2 (0.1)sin + 6 sin 0.3
0 2
2
2
2
0 r
+ 18(4 2 ) sin 2 (0.1)sin  0.3 + 6 sin 0
2
4
= 12.44 A
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 22
 Stokes’ Theorem (Right Side)
 (  H ) d S
S
1   (H  sin ) H  
J = H =  − a 
r sin     
1  1 H r  (rH  )  1   (rH  ) H r 
+  − a
  +  −  a
r  sin   r  r  r  

1  1 H r  (rH  )  1  1  (6r sin )  (18r 2 sin  cos) 

J =  − =  − 
r  sin   r  r  sin   r 
1 1  cos 
=  6r cos  − 36 r sin  cos = 6 − 36 sin  cos 
r  sin   sin 
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 23
Stokes’ Theorem (Right Side)
 cos  
J =  6 − 36 sin  cos   = 8.292 cos 
 sin   =0.1

4 0.3
 (  H )dS =   (8.292 cos )(r sin ) d dr
S 2 0
4
2
0.3 r
= 2.5623sin  0
2
2
= 12.44 A
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 24
 Magnetic Flux
• Measure of magnetic field strength present over a given area:

 =  B dS
Magnetic Flux (units is in
S
Webers , Wb)
• Magnetic Flux Density describes how Project flux density onto
magnetic flux lines are distributed over an area the differential surface area
vector then perform surface
• B = µ0H (units is in Telsa) integral

• µ0 is the free space permeability

•NOTE: The magnetic flux lines are closed and do not terminate on a
“magnetic charge” (Magnetic Monopoles don’t exist (?))
• Using Divergence:  B=0
EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 25
 Magnetic Flux
Example: A conductor along the x-axis is carrying 10 A of current in the –x
direction. Determine the magnetic flux passing through the area bounded by x
= 1, x = 3, y = 1 and y = 4 in the –z direction.

Solution:
• Magnetic field of a current along the
z-axis: I
H= a
2
•Magnetic flux of a current along the x-axis
(going to –x direction) on the xy-plane:
0I
B =  0H = − az
2y

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 26

 Magnetic Flux
Example: A conductor along the x-axis is carrying 10 A of current in the –x
direction. Determine the magnetic flux passing through the area bounded by x
= 1, x = 3, y = 1 and y = 4 in the –z direction.

Solution:
• Surface area vector can be expressed as:
dS = −2dy az
• Using Magnetic Flux Formula:
4 0I 4 10
0
 =  B  dS =  2dy =  2dy
1 2y 1 2y
10 0 4
= ln y 1 = 5.55 Wb


EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 27

Scalar Magnetic Potential
• Recall: Electric Field intensity can be obtained using gradient operation
on a scalar field called electric potential

E = −V
• Is there a scalar function similar to electric potential that can be used
to obtain the magnetic field? YES! ☺
• We defined a scalar magnetic potential Vm as:

H = −Vm
• Restriction:  H = J =  (−Vm ) but  (−V ) = 0 for any
scalar function V. Thus,
H = - Vm is valid only if J=0 in the region of Vm.

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 28

Scalar Magnetic Field
Example: Consider a coaxial cable such that J = 0 in the region a <  < b

So, a Vm may be defined in that region.

I
H= a  = −Vm
2
I in the inner conductor is flowing in the az
direction.

I 1 Vm
a = −Vm = − a
2  

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 29

 Scalar Magnetic Field
Example: Consider a coaxial cable such that J = 0 in the region a <  < b

I 1 Vm
a = −Vm = − a
2  
Vm I
=−
 2
I
Vm = − +C
2
I
Vm = − 
2
Note: Vm is multi-valued → non-conservative

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 30

 Vector Magnetic Potential
• Recall: Divergence on magnetic flux density is expressed as

 B=0→  B dS = 0
S
• We note that the divergence of a curl of any vector is zero for any
vector field. As such, we can define some vector field A that satisfies
1
B =  A → H =  A

• Expressions for Magnetic vector potential:

0IdL IdL  ar 0KdS 0 Jdv

A= H=  A= A= 
4 R 4 R 2 S 4 R vol 4 R

EEE 23: ELECTROMAGNETICS I 31