Brilliant STUDY CENTRE

MOVING CHARGES & MAGNETISM

The branch of physics which deals with the magnetism due to electric current or moving charge is
called electromagnetism.
The relation between electricity and magnetism was discovered by Oersted in 1820.
Current Element:
A very small element of length ‘dl’ of a thin conductor carrying current I called current element. Current
element is a vector quantity whose magnitude is equal to the product of current and length of small
element having the direction of the flow of current

Biot-Savart’s Law
Biot-Savart’s law is used to determine the magnetic field at any point due to current carrying conductor.

According to Biot-Savart’s Law, magnetic field at any point ‘P’ due to the current element Idl is dB.

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1
dB  I, dB  dl, dB  sin  , dB 
r2

Idlsin  KIdlsin 
i.e. dB  2
or dB 
r r2

0 Idlsin 
dB  In S.I. unit
4 r 2

0
In C.G.S. unit k = 1 and In S.I. unit k 
4
S.I. unit of B is Weber / m2 or Tesla.
In C.G.S unit is Gauss (G) or Maxwell / cm2
IT = 104 gauss

where  0 = absolute permeability of air

7 Wb
or vacuum = 4  10 its other unit are
Am

henry N Tesla  metre

or 2 or
metre A Ampere
Vector form of Biot-Savart’s Law
  
 0 I dl  r
dB  
0

I 
dl  rˆ 
 Idlsin 
 0 nˆ
4 r 3
4 r 2
4 r 2

where n̂ is a unit vector which is perpendicular to both Idl and r i.e.B is perpendicular to both Idl and
r for   0 or 180 sin   0 i.e. magnetic field on the axis of a current carrying conductor is always
zero.
In terms of current density,
 

  J  r dv
dB  0

4 r3
J  current density
dv  small volume element
Direction of magnetic field :
Right hand thumb rule : According to this rule if a straight current carrying conductor is held in the
right hand such that the thumb of the hand represents the direction of current flow then the direction of
folding fingers will represent the direction of magnetic lines of force.

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Application of Biot-Savart’s Law

(1) Field due to finite length straight conductor carrying current

field at po int P,
 I
B  0 sin 1  sin 2 
4 r

r  perpendicular distance to point P from the conductor

 
2) If the conductor is infinitely long, then 1  and 2 
2 2

0 I  2 0 I
B 
4r 2r

3) Magnetic field due to special semi infinite length wire at point P

1  90o ,  2  0

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0I
B
4r
Magnetic field at the centre of a square loop

Field due to one side at centre

0 I
B1  sin 45o  sin 45o 
4  
2

2 0 I 2
=
4 2
Net field at centre

2 2 0 I
B  4B1 

Magnetic field at the centre of a circular current carrying loop

0 Idlsin90 0 Idl
dB   
4 r2 4 r 2

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2 r
0 I
B  
0
4 r 2
dl

0 I
B
2 r

0 NI
For a coil of N turns, B 
2 r
The direction of the magnetic field at the centre of the circular coil can be obtained by using right hand
thumb rule. If the fingers are curled along the current, then the stretched thumb will point towards the
magnetic field.
Current loop as a ‘magnetic dipole’
The face of the coil in which current appears to flow anticlockwise acts as magnetic north pole.

The face of the coil in which current appears to flow clockwise acts as magnetic south pole.

Magnetic field due to current carrying circular segment subtending an angle  at the centre.

0 I
dB 
4 r 2
d  rd

0 Ird 0 Id
dB  
4 r 2 4 r

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 LECTURE NOTE 2025 - PHYSICS [SECOND YEAR]


 0 Id  0 I
B  
0 4  r 4 r

Magnetic field on the axis of a circular coil

 0 Id sin 
dB 
4 a 2

 0 Id
 dB 
4 a 2
   90 
o

 0 Id I
 B   dBsin    sin   0 2 sin  2r
4 a 2
4a

 0 Ir r 0 Ir 2  0 Ir 2
B   
2 r2  x2  2
3
2a 2 a 2a 3

It act along the axis of a circular coil. If the coil consist of N turns then

 0 NIr 2
B
2 r2  x2 
3
2

Special Cases
1) at the centre of the loop x = 0

 0 NIr 2  NI
B 2
or 0
2r 2r
2) If the observation point is far away from the coil i.e. r < < x

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 0 NIr 2  0 NIA  0 2NIA  0 2m

B    3  
2x 3 2 x 3 4 x 4 x 3
The quantity NIA is known as the magnetic dipole moment M of the current loop.
Current loop as a magnetic dipole
Based on the fact that the magnetic field of a current loop is identical with that of a magnetic dipole, it
was speculated by ampere in 1820 that all magnetism is due to current loops and this speculation is
indeed correct.
Ampere’s circuital law

The line integral  B.d for a closed curve is equal to  0 times the net current I through the area
bounded by the curve.

i.e.  B.d   0 I

Applications of Ampere’s Law

Magnetic field due to an infinite current carrying conductor

 B.d   I 0

B  2r   0 I
0I
B
2r

Magnetic field produced by a current along a circular cylinder of infinite length

1. When observation point is outside the cylinder

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i.e. r > a

 B.d   I 0

B  2r   0 I
0 I 1
B i.e. B 
2r r

2. When observation point is on the surface of the cylinder  r  a 

0 I
B
2a
3. When observation point is inside the cylinder

I
 B.d   I where I   r 2
1 1
0
a 2

I
B  2r   0  r 2
a 2

0 Ir
B
2a 2
Variation of B with r

Solenoid
A solenoid is used to generate magnetic field. A long solenoid is one whose length is very large, compared
to its radius.
A solenoid consists of a long metallic insulated wire wound in the form of a helix, where the neighbouring,
turns are closely spaced. Each turn can be regarded as a cicular loop.
Field inside the solenoid, at centre.

B   0 nI

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N
where, n  (number of turns per unit length)

at end point

 0 nI
B
2
For a long solenoid the inside field is almost uniform, and out side field is near to zero.
Toroid

i) The field at a point such as P is zero. This is because the circle through P does not encloses any
current
ii) The field at a point such as ‘Q’ is also zero. This is because each turn of the winding passes twice
through the area enclosed by the circle through r, carrying equal currents in opposite directions. So the
net current enclosed by this circle is zero.
iii) Inside the solenoid point such as S

 B.d   I 0 0

B  2r   0 NI
 0 NI
B   0 nI
2r

LORENTZ MAGNETIC FORCE


Consider a positive change ‘q’ moving in a uniform magnetic field B with a constant velocity v. The
change ‘q’ will experience a force ‘Fm’ known as Lorentz magnetic force. It is given by
 
 
Fm  q V  B  Bqv sin nˆ

Fm  Bqv sin 

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 LECTURE NOTE 2025 - PHYSICS [SECOND YEAR]

 
The direction of magnetic force is perpendicular to both v and B

 Work done by magnetic force = 0

K.E. of the particle remains constant and magnitude of velocity remains constant
Note
1. If the charge is at rest (v = 0) then Fm = 0 So, a stationary charge in a magnetic field experiences no
magnetic force.

2. If   0o or 180o i.e. If the change moves parallel to the direction of the magnetic field then Fm = 0

3. If the charge moves perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field i.e.   90o then Fm = Bqv
The direction of Fm can be determined by Fleming’s Left hand rule.
Statement : Stretch the middle finger, fore finger and thumb of the left hand in mutually perpendicular
directions. If the fore finger points in the direction of the magnetic field, the middle finger points in the
direction of motion of the +ve charge, then the thumb gives the direction of the force.
 Force on a moving charge in uniform electric and magnetic fields
      
  
F  qE  q V  B  q E  V  B 
 S.I unit of magnetic induction ‘B’ is Tesla and its c.g.s and is gauss.
IT = 104 gauss
Charged particle moving in a uniform magnetic field
Force on a charged particle moving in a uniform magnetic field
  
 
Fm  q V  B  BqV sin  nˆ

Case I : When the charged particle is moving parallel or antiparallel to the magnetic field

i.e.   0 or 180o
o

Particle moves along a straight line path

Fm  BqV sin 0 or BqV sin180 or Fm  0

Case II : When changed particle enter perpendicular to the magnetic field

Fm  q  V  B   BqV sin 90  BqV

The direction of force is given by Fleming’s left hand rule. In this case the centripetal force is provided
by the Lorentz magnetic force. So, the changed particle follows a circular path

m 2 mV
BqV  r 
r Bq

2r
and time period of revolution T 
V

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2 mv 2m 2
 
= V Bq Bq B q
m  
Bq
frequency  
2m

Bq
Angular frequency   2  2 
2m

Bq
or  
m
Case III : When a changed particle moves at an angle  to a uniform magnetic field B such that
  0,  90 and   180o

Then the charged particle will follow a helical path

Pitch of the helical path. It is the linear distance covered by the changed particle in the magnetic field
in a time during which the changed particle covers one revolution of its circular path

i.e. pitch of the helix = V cos  T

2m 2m
 V cos  Time period T 
Bq Bq
mV sin  Bq
radius r  and frerquency  
Bq 2m

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Motion of a charge particle in combined electric and magnetic fields

(1) Velocity selector

The charge particle experiences both electric and magnetic forces

The electrostatic force

Fe  qEjˆ
The magnetic force
  
  
Fm  q v  B  q viˆ  Bkˆ 

Fm  qvBjˆ
 Net force
  
F  Fe   Fm

F  q  E  vB  ˆj
The electric and magnetic forces are in opposite directions
When, Fe = Fm
Net fofce = 0
qE = qvB

E
v
B
This condition can be used to select charged particles of a particular velocity out of a beam containing
charges moving with different speeds
 Force on a current-carrying conductor in a uniform magnetic field
  

F  I B 
The magnitude of force F = BI sin 
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 The direction of the force is given by Fleming’s Left hand Rule

Statement : If the forefinger, middle finger and thumb of the left hand are held in the mutually
perpendicular directions such that the forefinger shows the direction of the magnetic field, the middle
finger shows the direction of the current, then the thumb will points in the direction of the force on the
current carrying conductor.
Forces between two parallel current carrying conductors

Force on first conduction due to

Second one = F12  B2 I1 sin 90

0 I2
= I1  
2r

F12  0 I1I 2

 2r
Force on second due to first one

 0 I1I 2 
= F21  B1I 2  sin 90 
2r

F21  0 I1I 2

 2r
Note :
1. Two parallel current carrying conductors attract each other if the currents are in the same direction
and repel each other if the currents are in the opposite direction.
2. The force between two parallel current carrying conductor is proportional to the product of the current
strengths and the length of the conductor under consideration and varies inversely as the distance
between them.

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Torque on a current carrying coil in a magnetic field

The net magnetic force on a current loop in a uniform magnetic field is zero but a torque may acting on
the loop.
   , the magnitude of torque is given by,,
  MB
  MBsin 
 is the angle between normal to the loop and direction of field.
Potential energy of the loop

u   MB cos  if   0o if   180o
  0
u   M.B 0
u   MB u  MB
stable equilibrium unstable equilibrium

Moving coil Galvanometer

Principle : When a current carrying coil is placed in magnetic field, it experience a torque
Theory
Moment of reflecting couple = NBIA

C  torsional constant of spring

Moment of restoring couple = C
For equilibrium of the coil
NBIA = C

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C C
or I  where is the Galvanometer constant.
NBA NBA
Current sensitivity of a Galvanometer
The current sensitivity of a galvanometer is the deflection of the meter per unit current

 NBA
IS  
I C
Voltage sensitivity of a Galvanometer
It is defined as the deflection of the meter per unit voltage

  NBA
VS   
V IR CR
Conversion of Galvanometer to Ammeter
Ammeter is an instrument used specifically for measuring electric current.
Galvanometer can convert to ammeter by connecting a small resistance (s) in parallel with it.

Ig  G   I  Ig  S
Ig  G
S G  resistance of the galvanometer
 I  Ig 

The resistance of the ammeter Ra

 Resistance of ideal ammeter is zero
GS
Ra 
G S
The ammeter is always connected in series in the circuit because it doesn’t alter the current due to its
small resistance.
Conversion of Galvanometer to voltmeter
Voltmeter is an instrument for measuring potential difference
A galvanometer can be converted in to a voltmeter by connecting a high resistance in series with it.

V  Ig  G  R 

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V
R G
Ig

Rv  R  G
 Resistance of ideal voltmeter infinity
Voltmeter is always connected in parallel with the circuit because of its high resistance.
The magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron

The electron performs uniform circular motion around a stationary nucleus.

The current

e
I
T

2r
time period, T 
v

ev
I
2r
the magnetic moment,

ev
  IA   r 2
2r

evr

2
The angular momentum of the revolving electron
I = mvr

magnetic momet
Gyromagnetic ratio =
angular momentum

 e
  8.8 1010 C / kg
 2m

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Bohr Magneton
According of Bohr’s theory, angular momentum of orbital electron is given by

nh
L . where n = 1,2,3,... and h is plank’s constant
2

eL eh
Magnetic moment of orbital electron is given by by M  n
2m 4m

eh
 If n = 1 then M  , which is Bohr magneton denoted by  3
4m

Definition of ( B )

Bohr magneton can be defined as the magnetic moment of orbital electron which revolves in first orbit
of an atom.

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