Magnetic Fields AS Unit 4

Drawing Field Diagrams

As with gravitational and electric fields, we
often draw field diagrams around magnets to
show the magnetic field they exert.

Electric fields show the direction that a

positive charge would travel in that field. In a
similar way, magnetic fields demonstrate
demonstra how
Magnetic Fields around (a) a solenoid, and (b)
a North magnetic monopole would behave.
a bar magnet. Notice that the field lines point
Although monopoles are (theoretically) from N to S. In other words, they show the
impossible to isolate, this is a useful way of direction in which a theoretical North
representing the field. monopole would feel a force.

Magnetic Field around a Wire

When a current flows through a Right Hand Grip Rule
wire (in
(i other words, when
charge is moving), it produces a
magnetic field around
aro that wire.
This is orientated in a plane
perpendicular to the wire.

To find out which direction the field is in (i.e.,

( where the
arrows are), we can use the Right Hand
Han Grip Rule.

3D Diagrams on 2D Paper: Arrowhead Notation Using your right hand, if the

current is going in the direction
We often need to represent 3D magnetic fields on 2D
your thumb is pointing, then
paper. To overcome this we can use arrowhead notation.
the magnetic field will be
A point is like an arrow coming towards you, and a cross is pointing in the direction your
like the flights of the arrow moving away from you. fingers are.

Magnetic field around a solenoid.

Here, the current is shown using
arrowhead notation, enabling the A very similar method is used to show the direction of
magnetic field to be drawn in the a linear magnetic field.
same plane as the paper.
 Magnetic Fields AS Unit 4
Current in a Magnetic Field
When a current flows through a wirewire in a magnetic field, that wire experiences a force. This
can be explained by drawing the field diagram: the cancelling of field lines results in a
catapult field,, which forces the wire in a certain direction.
where F = Force on wire (N)
B = magnetic field strength (Teslas, T)
ࡲ ൌ ࡮ࡵ࢒ I = current through wire (A)
l = length of wire (m)

To find out in which direction this force acts, we can use

Fleming’s Left Hand Rule
Fleming’s Left Hand Rule. This direction will always be
The directionss of current flow, perpendicular to both the direction of current and the
field, and motion, are all direction of the magnetic field.
perpendicular to one another.
They form what is called an Moving Charge in a Magnetic Field
orthogonal basis. If we know
the direction of two of these, When a charge moves in a magnetic field, it may experience
we can work out the other a force. The magnitude of this force can be found by
using Fleming’s Left Hand Rule.
where F = Force on wire (N)
B = magnetic field strength (Teslas, T)
ࡲ ൌ ࡮ࢗ࢜ q = charge (C)
v = velocity of charge (ms-1)

The direction of the force can be found by Fleming’s Left

Hand Rule. Note that with that we are interested in current
flow, i.e. the movement of positive charge. If a negative
charge is moving in a magnetic field, then the current flow
Your First
irst Finger represents the is in the direction opposite to its velocity.
field (F), seCond finger the
current (C), and your thuMb b Because the force is always perpendicular to the direction
the motion (M). of motion, this causes the charge to follow a circular path.
Draw the direction of the force
in each of these situations:
 Magnetic Fields AS Unit 4
Compare this with the motion of a charge in an electric field:
this always feels a force in the direction of the field itself,
resulting in a parabola.

Catapult Field
When a wire carries a current through a magnetic field, the
mechanism that causes the force it feels is the catapult field.

The magnetic field around the

wire is shown here, as is the
field between the poles of the
magnet. On one side of each
A charge in an electric
wire the field lines are in the
field follows a parabolic
opposite direction, and cancel
path, unlike a charge in a
each other out. On the other
magnetic field.
side, though, the field lines
reinforce one another. This results in a kind of “low
pressure” on one side, which forces the wire out of the
field.

Questions
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