Chapter 9 Review
Key Terms
Ampère’s law
physical law that states that the line integral of the magnetic field around an electric current is proportional to the current
Biot-Savart law
an equation giving the magnetic field at a point produced by a current-carrying wire
diamagnetic materials
their magnetic dipoles align oppositely to an applied magnetic field; when the field is removed, the material is unmagnetized
ferromagnetic materials
contain groups of dipoles, called domains, that align with the applied magnetic field; when this field is removed, the material is still magnetized
hysteresis
property of ferromagnets that is seen when a material’s magnetic field is examined versus the applied magnetic field; a loop is created resulting from sweeping the applied field forward and reverse
magnetic domains
groups of magnetic dipoles that are all aligned in the same direction and are coupled together quantum mechanically
magnetic susceptibility
ratio of the magnetic field in the material over the applied field at that time; positive susceptibilities are either paramagnetic or ferromagnetic (aligned with the field) and negative susceptibilities are diamagnetic (aligned oppositely with the field)
paramagnetic materials
their magnetic dipoles align partially in the same direction as the applied magnetic field; when this field is removed, the material is unmagnetized
permeability of free space
measure of the ability of a material, in this case free space, to support a magnetic field
solenoid
thin wire wound into a coil that produces a magnetic field when an electric current is passed through it
toroid
donut-shaped coil closely wound around that is one continuous wire
Key Equations
Permeability of free space | ![]() |
Contribution to magnetic field
from a current element |
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Biot–Savart law | ![]() |
Magnetic field due to a
long straight wire |
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Force between two parallel currents | ![]() |
Magnetic field of a current loop | ![]() |
Ampère’s law | ![]() |
Magnetic field strength
inside a solenoid |
![]() |
Magnetic field strength inside a toroid | ![]() |
Magnetic permeability | ![]() |
Magnetic field of a solenoid
filled with paramagnetic material |
![]() |
Magnetic field due to a
Summary
9.1 The Biot-Savart Law
- The magnetic field created by a current-carrying wire is found by the Biot-Savart law.
- The current element
produces a magnetic field a distance
away.
9.2 Magnetic Field Due to a Thin Straight Wire
- The strength of the magnetic field created by current in a long straight wire is given by
(long straight wire) where
is the current,
is the shortest distance to the wire, and the constant
is the permeability of free space.
- The direction of the magnetic field created by a long straight wire is given by right-hand rule
(RHR
): Point the thumb of the right hand in the direction of current, and the fingers curl in the direction of the magnetic field loops created by it.
9.3 Magnetic Force between Two Parallel Currents
- The force between two parallel currents
and
separated by a distance
has a magnitude per unit length given by
- The force is attractive if the currents are in the same direction, repulsive if they are in opposite directions.
9.4 Magnetic Field of a Current Loop
- The magnetic field strength at the center of a circular loop is given by
(at center of loop), where
is the radius of the loop. RHR-2 gives the direction of the field about the loop.
9.5 Ampère’s Law
- The magnetic field created by current following any path is the sum (or integral) of the fields due to segments along the path (magnitude and direction as for a straight wire), resulting in a general relationship between current and field known as Ampère’s law.
- Ampère’s law can be used to determine the magnetic field from a thin wire or thick wire by a geometrically convenient path of integration. The results are consistent with the Biot-Savart law.
9.6 Solenoids and Toroids
- The magnetic field strength inside a solenoid is
(inside a solenoid)
where is the number of loops per unit length of the solenoid. The field inside is very uniform in magnitude and direction.
- The magnetic field strength inside a toroid is
(within the toroid)
where is the number of windings. The field inside a toroid is not uniform and varies with the distance as
9.7 Magnetism in Matter
- Materials are classified as paramagnetic, diamagnetic, or ferromagnetic, depending on how they behave in an applied magnetic field.
- Paramagnetic materials have partial alignment of their magnetic dipoles with an applied magnetic field. This is a positive magnetic susceptibility. Only a surface current remains, creating a solenoid-like magnetic field.
- Diamagnetic materials exhibit induced dipoles opposite to an applied magnetic field. This is a negative magnetic susceptibility.
- Ferromagnetic materials have groups of dipoles, called domains, which align with the applied magnetic field. However, when the field is removed, the ferromagnetic material remains magnetized, unlike paramagnetic materials. This magnetization of the material versus the applied field effect is called hysteresis.
Answers to Check Your Understanding
9.1
9.2
9.3 4 amps flowing out of the page
9.4 Both have a force per unit length of
9.5
9.6 In these cases the integrals around the Ampèrian loop are very difficult because there is no symmetry, so this method would not be useful.
9.7 a. b.
9.8 a. b.
c.
Conceptual Questions
9.1 The Biot-Savart Law
1. For calculating magnetic fields, what are the advantages and disadvantages of the Biot-Savart law?
2. Describe the magnetic field due to the current in two wires connected to the two terminals of a source of emf and twisted tightly around each other.
3. How can you decide if a wire is infinite?
4. Identical currents are carried in two circular loops; however, one loop has twice the diameter as the other loop. Compare the magnetic fields created by the loops at the center of each loop.
9.2 Magnetic Field Due to a Thin Straight Wire
5. How would you orient two long, straight, current-carrying wires so that there is no net magnetic force between them? (Hint: What orientation would lead to one wire not experiencing a magnetic field from the other?)
9.3 Magnetic Force between Two Parallel Currents
6. Compare and contrast the electric field of an infinite line of charge and the magnetic field of an infinite line of current.
7. Is constant in magnitude for points that lie on a magnetic field line?
9.4 Magnetic Field of a Current Loop
8. Is the magnetic field of a current loop uniform?
9. What happens to the length of a suspended spring when a current passes through it?
10. Two concentric circular wires with different diameters carry currents in the same direction. Describe the force on the inner wire.
9.5 Ampère’s Law
11. Is Ampère’s law valid for all closed paths? Why isn’t it normally useful for calculating a magnetic field?
9.6 Solenoids and Toroids
12. Is the magnetic field inside a toroid completely uniform? Almost uniform?
13. Explain why inside a long, hollow copper pipe that is carrying an electric current parallel to the axis. Is
outside the pipe?
9.7 Magnetism in Matter
14. A diamagnetic material is brought close to a permanent magnet. What happens to the material?
15. If you cut a bar magnet into two pieces, will you end up with one magnet with an isolated north pole and another magnet with an isolated south pole? Explain your answer.
Problems
9.1 The Biot-Savart Law
16. A current flows through the wire shown. What is the magnitude of the magnetic field due to a
segment of wire as measured at (a) point A and (b) point B?
17. Ten amps flow through a square loop where each side is in length. At each corner of the loop is a
segment that connects the longer wires as shown. Calculate the magnitude of the magnetic field at the center of the loop.
18. What is the magnetic field at P due to the current in the wire shown?
19. The accompanying figure shows a current loop consisting of two concentric circular arcs and two perpendicular radial lines. Determine the magnetic field at point P.
20. Find the magnetic field at the center C of the rectangular loop of wire shown in the accompanying figure.
21. Two long wires, one of which has a semicircular bend of radius are positioned as shown in the accompanying figure. If both wires carry a current
how far apart must their parallel sections be so that the net magnetic field at P is zero? Does the current in the straight wire flow up or down?
9.2 Magnetic Field Due to a Thin Straight Wire
22. A typical current in a lightning bolt is Estimate the magnetic field
from the bolt.
23. The magnitude of the magnetic field from a long, thin, straight wire is
What is the current through the long wire?
24. A transmission line strung above the ground carries a current of
What is the magnetic field on the ground directly below the wire? Compare your answer with the magnetic field of Earth.
25. A long, straight, horizontal wire carries a left-to-right current of If the wire is placed in a uniform magnetic field of magnitude
that is directed vertically downward, what is the resultant magnitude of the magnetic field
above the wire?
below the wire?
26. The two long, parallel wires shown in the accompanying figure carry currents in the same direction. If and
what is the magnetic field at point P?
27. The accompanying figure shows two long, straight, horizontal wires that are parallel and a distance apart. If both wires carry current
in the same direction, (a) what is the magnetic field at
? (b)
?
28. Repeat the calculations of the preceding problem with the direction of the current in the lower wire reversed.
29. Consider the area between the wires of the preceding problem. At what distance from the top wire is the net magnetic field a minimum? Assume that the currents are equal and flow in opposite directions.
9.3 Magnetic Force between Two Parallel Currents
30. Two long, straight wires are parallel and apart. (a) If each wire carries a current of
in the same direction, what is the magnetic force per meter exerted on each wire? (b) Does the force pull the wires together or push them apart? (c) What happens if the currents flow in opposite directions?
31. Two long, straight wires are parallel and apart. One carries a current of
the other a current of
(a) If the two currents flow in opposite directions, what is the magnitude and direction of the force per unit length of one wire on the other? (b) What is the magnitude and direction of the force per unit length if the currents flow in the same direction?
32. Two long, parallel wires are hung by cords of length as shown in the accompanying figure. Each wire has a mass per unit length of
and they carry the same current in opposite directions. What is the current if the cords hang at
with respect to the vertical?
33. A circuit with current has two long parallel wire sections that carry current in opposite directions. Find magnetic field at a point P near these wires that is a distance
from one wire and
from the other wire as shown in the figure.
34. The infinite, straight wire shown in the accompanying figure carries a current The rectangular loop, whose long sides are parallel to the wire, carries a current
What are the magnitude and direction of the force on the rectangular loop due to the magnetic field of the wire?
9.4 Magnetic Field of a Current Loop
35. When the current through a circular loop is the magnetic field at its center is
What is the radius of the loop?
36. How many turns must be wound on a flat, circular coil of radius in order to produce a magnetic field of magnitude
at the center of the coil when the current through it is
?
37. A flat, circular loop has turns. The radius of the loop is
and the current through the wire is
Determine the magnitude of the magnetic field at the center of the loop.
38. A circular loop of radius carries a current
At what distance along the axis of the loop is the magnetic field one-half its value at the center of the loop?
39. Two flat, circular coils, each with a radius and wound with
turns, are mounted along the same axis so that they are parallel a distance
apart. What is the magnetic field at the midpoint of the common axis if a current
flows in the same direction through each coil?
40. For the coils in the preceding problem, what is the magnetic field at the center of either coil?
9.5 Ampère’s Law
41. A current flows around the rectangular loop shown in the accompanying figure. Evaluate
for the paths
and
42. Evaluate for each of the cases shown in the accompanying figure.
43. The coil whose lengthwise cross section is shown in the accompanying figure carries a current and has
evenly spaced turns distributed along the length
Evaluate
for the paths indicated.
44. A superconducting wire of diameter carries a current of
What is the magnetic field just outside the wire?
45. A long, straight wire of radius carries a current
that is distributed uniformly over the cross-section of the wire. At what distance from the axis of the wire is the magnitude of the magnetic field a maximum?
46. The accompanying figure shows a cross-section of a long, hollow, cylindrical conductor of inner radius and outer radius
A
current distributed uniformly over the cross-section flows into the page. Calculate the magnetic field at
and
47. A long, solid, cylindrical conductor of radius carries a current of
distributed uniformly over its cross-section. Plot the magnetic field as a function of the radial distance
from the center of the conductor.
48. A portion of a long, cylindrical coaxial cable is shown in the accompanying figure. A current flows down the center conductor, and this current is returned in the outer conductor. Determine the magnetic field in the regions (a)
(b)
(c)
and (d)
Assume that the current is distributed uniformly over the cross sections of the two parts of the cable.
9.6 Solenoids and Toroids
49. A solenoid is wound with turns per meter. When the current is
what is the magnetic field within the solenoid?
50. A solenoid has turns per centimeter. What current will produce a magnetic field of
within the solenoid?
52. A solenoid is long, has a diameter of
and is wound with
turns. If the current through the windings is
what is the magnetic field at a point on the axis of the solenoid that is (a) at the center of the solenoid, (b)
from one end of the solenoid, and (c)
from one end of the solenoid? (d) Compare these answers with the infinite-solenoid case.
53. Determine the magnetic field on the central axis at the opening of a semi-infinite solenoid. (That is, take the opening to be at and the other end to be at
54. By how much is the approximation in error at the center of a solenoid that is
long, has a diameter of
is wrapped with
turns per meter, and carries a current
?
55. A solenoid with turns per centimeter carries a current
An electron moves within the solenoid in a circle that has a radius of
and is perpendicular to the axis of the solenoid. If the speed of the electron is
what is
?
56. A toroid has turns of wire and carries a current of
Its inner and outer radii are
and
What are the values of its magnetic field at
and
?
57. A toroid with a square cross section has an inner radius of
It is wound with
turns of wire, and it carries a current of
What is the strength of the magnetic field at the center of the square cross section?
9.7 Magnetism in Matter
58. The magnetic field in the core of an air-filled solenoid is By how much will this magnetic field decrease if the air is pumped out of the core while the current is held constant?
59. A solenoid has a ferromagnetic core, turns per metre, and
If
inside the solenoid is
what is
for the core material?
60. A current flows through a solenoid with
turns per meter. What is the magnetic field inside the solenoid if its core is (a) a vacuum and (b) filled with liquid oxygen at
?
61. The magnetic dipole moment of the iron atom is about (a) Calculate the maximum magnetic dipole moment of a domain consisting of
iron atoms. (b) What current would have to flow through a single circular loop of wire of diameter
to produce this magnetic dipole moment?
62. Suppose you wish to produce a magnetic field in a toroid with an iron core for which
The toroid has a mean radius of
and is wound with
turns. What current is required?
63. A current of flows through the windings of a large, thin toroid with
turns per meter. If the toroid is filled with iron for which
what is the magnetic field within it?
64. A solenoid with an iron core is long and is wrapped with
turns of wire. When the current through the solenoid is
the magnetic field inside it is
For this current, what is the permeability of the iron? If the current is turned off and then restored to
will the magnetic field necessarily return to
?
Additional Problems
65. Three long, straight, parallel wires, all carrying are positioned as shown in the accompanying figure. What is the magnitude of the magnetic field at the point
?
66. A current flows around a wire bent into the shape of a square of side
What is the magnetic field at the point P that is a distance
above the center of the square (see the accompanying figure)?
67. The accompanying figure shows a long, straight wire carrying a current of What is the magnetic force on an electron at the instant it is
from the wire, traveling parallel to the wire with a speed of
? Describe qualitatively the subsequent motion of the electron.
68. Current flows along a thin, infinite sheet as shown in the accompanying figure. The current per unit length along the sheet is in amperes per meter. (a) Use the Biot-Savart law to show that
on either side of the sheet. What is the direction of
on each side? (b) Now use Ampère’s law to calculate the field.
69. (a) Use the result of the previous problem to calculate the magnetic field between, above, and below the pair of infinite sheets shown in the accompanying figure. (b) Repeat your calculations if the direction of the current in the lower sheet is reversed.
70. We often assume that the magnetic field is uniform in a region and zero everywhere else. Show that in reality it is impossible for a magnetic field to drop abruptly to zero, as illustrated in the accompanying figure. (Hint: Apply Ampère’s law over the path shown.)
71. How is the percentage change in the strength of the magnetic field across the face of the toroid related to the percentage change in the radial distance from the axis of the toroid?
72. Show that the expression for the magnetic field of a toroid reduces to that for the field of an infinite solenoid in the limit that the central radius goes to infinity.
73. A toroid with an inner radius of and an outer radius of
is tightly wound with one layer of wire that has a diameter of
(a) How many turns are there on the toroid? (b) If the current through the toroid windings is
what is the strength of the magnetic field at the center of the toroid?
74. A wire element has
where
and
are the cross-sectional area and volume of the element, respectively. Use this, the Biot-Savart law, and
to show that the magnetic field of a moving point charge
is given by:
75. A reasonably uniform magnetic field over a limited region of space can be produced with the Helmholtz coil, which consists of two parallel coils centered on the same axis. The coils are connected so that they carry the same current Each coil has
turns and radius
which is also the distance between the coils. (a) Find the magnetic field at any point on the
-axis shown in the accompanying figure. (b) Show that
and
are both zero at
(These vanishing derivatives demonstrate that the magnetic field varies only slightly near
)
76. A charge of is distributed uniformly around a thin ring of insulating material. The ring has a radius of
and rotates at
around the axis that passes through its center and is perpendicular to the plane of the ring. What is the magnetic field at the center of the ring?
77. A thin, nonconducting disk of radius is free to rotate around the axis that passes through its center and is perpendicular to the face of the disk. The disk is charged uniformly with a total charge
If the disk rotates at a constant angular velocity
what is the magnetic field at its center?
78. Consider the disk in the previous problem. Calculate the magnetic field at a point on its central axis that is a distance above the disk.
79. Consider the axial magnetic field of the circular current loop shown below. (a) Evaluate
Also show that
(b) Can you deduce this limit without evaluating the integral? (Hint: See the accompanying figure.)
80. The current density in the long, cylindrical wire shown in the accompanying figure varies with distance from the center of the wire according to
where
is a constant. (a) What is the current through the wire? (b) What is the magnetic field produced by this current for
? For
?
81. A long, straight, cylindrical conductor contains a cylindrical cavity whose axis is displaced by a from the axis of the conductor, as shown in the accompanying figure. The current density in the conductor is given by where
is a constant and
is along the axis of the conductor. Calculate the magnetic field at an arbitrary point
in the cavity by superimposing the field of a solid cylindrical conductor with radius
and current density
onto the field of a solid cylindrical conductor with radius
and current density
Then use the fact that the appropriate azimuthal unit vectors can be expressed as
and
to show that everywhere inside the cavity the magnetic field is given by the constant
where
and
is the position of
relative to the centre of the conductor and
is the position of
relative to the centre of the cavity.
82. Between the two ends of a horseshoe magnet the field is uniform as shown in the diagram. As you move out to outside edges, the field bends. Show by Ampère’s law that the field must bend and thereby the field weakens due to these bends.
83. Show that the magnetic field of a thin wire and that of a current loop are zero if you are infinitely far away.
84. An Ampère loop is chosen as shown by dashed lines for a parallel constant magnetic field as shown by solid arrows. Calculate for each side of the loop then find the entire
Can you think of an Ampère loop that would make the problem easier? Do those results match these?
85. A very long, thick cylindrical wire of radius carries a current density
that varies across its cross-section. The magnitude of the current density at a point a distance
from the center of the wire is given by
where
is a constant. Find the magnetic field (a) at a point outside the wire and (b) at a point inside the wire. Write your answer in terms of the net current
through the wire.
86. A very long, cylindrical wire of radius has a circular hole of radius
in it at a distance
from the center. The wire carries a uniform current of magnitude
through it. The direction of the current in the figure is out of the paper. Find the magnetic field (a) at a point at the edge of the hole closest to the center of the thick wire, (b) at an arbitrary point inside the hole, and (c) at an arbitrary point outside the wire. (Hint: Think of the hole as a sum of two wires carrying current in the opposite directions.)
87. Magnetic field inside a torus. Consider a torus of rectangular cross-section with inner radius and outer radius
turns of an insulated thin wire are wound evenly on the torus tightly all around the torus and connected to a battery producing a steady current
in the wire. Assume that the current on the top and bottom surfaces in the figure is radial, and the current on the inner and outer radii surfaces is vertical. Find the magnetic field inside the torus as a function of radial distance
from the axis.
88. Two long coaxial copper tubes, each of length are connected to a battery of voltage
The inner tube has inner radius
and outer radius
and the outer tube has inner radius
and outer radius
The tubes are then disconnected from the battery and rotated in the same direction at angular speed of
radians per second about their common axis. Find the magnetic field (a) at a point inside the space enclosed by the inner tube
and (b) at a point between the tubes
and (c) at a point outside the tubes
(Hint: Think of copper tubes as a capacitor and find the charge density based on the voltage applied,
Challenge Problems
89. The accompanying figure shows a flat, infinitely long sheet of width that carries a current
uniformly distributed across it. Find the magnetic field at the point P, which is in the plane of the sheet and at a distance
from one edge. Test your result for the limit
90. A hypothetical current flowing in the -direction creates the field
in the rectangular region of the
-plane shown in the accompanying figure. Use Ampère’s law to find the current through the rectangle.
91. A nonconducting hard rubber circular disk of radius is painted with a uniform surface charge density
It is rotated about its axis with angular speed
(a) Find the magnetic field produced at a point on the axis a distance
meters from the center of the disk. (b) Find the numerical value of magnitude of the magnetic field when
and
and compare it with the magnitude of magnetic field of Earth, which is about