Magnetic Forces,

Materials, and Devices

Dr. Talal Skaik
Islamic University of Gaza – Palestine

2012
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 Introduction
• We will study the force a magnetic field exerts on charges
particles, current elements and loops.
• Such a study is important to understand electrical devices such as
ammeters, voltmeters, motors,…etc.

Forces Due to Magnetic Fields:

• Force on a moving charged particle.
• Force on a current element.
• Force between two current elements.

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 Force on a charged particle
The electric force Fe on a stationary or moving electric charge Q in an
electric field is:
Fe =QE
 this shows that if Q is positive, Fe and E have the same direction.
 Fe is independent of the velocity of the charge.

 A magnetic field can exert force only on a moving charge. if a charge Q

is moving with a velocity u in a magnetic field B, the magnetic force Fm
experienced by the charge is:
Fm =Qu  B
 Fm is perpendicular to both u and B
 Fm depends on the charge velocity. 3
 For a moving charge Q in the presence of both electric and magnetic fields,
the total force on the charge is given by: F=Q  E+u  B 
 If the mass of the charged particle moving in E and B is m, by Newton's second
du
law of motion, F=m =Q  E+u  B 
dt

 The force on a current element Idl in a magnetic field B is: dF=Idl  B

If the current I is through a closed path L or circuit, the force on the circuit
is given by: F=  Idl  B
L

 (The B field that exerts force on Idl is due to another element). (B is external).
 If we have surface current element KdS : F=  KdS  B
S

 If we have volume current element Jdv : F=  Jdv  B

v
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 Example 8.3
A charged particle moves with a uniform velocity 4ax m/s in a region
where E=20ay V/m and B= B0az Wb/m2. Determine B0 such that the
velocity of the particle remains constant.
Solution

If the particle moves with a constant velocity, it implies that its acceleration is zero.
In other words, the particle experiences no net force. Hence,
Fe  Fm  QE  Qu  B  E  u  B
20 a y    4a x  B o a z     4 B o a y 
 Thus B o = 5
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This example illustrates an important principle employed in a velocity filter
shown in the Figure. In this application, E, B, and u are mutually perpendicular
so that Qu  B is directed opposite to QE, regardless
of the sign of the charge. When the magnitudes of the two vectors are equal,
QuB  QE
E
u
B
Particles with this speed are undeflected by the fields; they are "filtered"
through the aperture. Particles with other speeds are deflected down or up,
depending on whether their speeds are greater or less than this critical speed.

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 Example 8.4
A rectangular loop carrying current I2 is placed parallel to an infinitely
long filamentary wire carrying current I1 as shown in the figure. Show that
the force experienced by the loop is given by

 o I 1I 2b  1 1 
F     a N
2   o  o a 

(a) rectangular loop inside the field produced by an infinitely long wire,
(b) forces acting on the loop and wire. 7
 Example 8.4 Solution
Let the force on the loop be F = F 1 + F 2 + F 3 + F 4 = I 2  dl B
2 1

where F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , and F 4 are, respectively, the forces exerted on sides of the loop labeled
1, 2, 3, and 4 in Figure 8.4(b). Due to the infinitely long wire
oI1
B1= a
2o
b oI1
Hence, F 1 =I 2  dl 2 B 1  I 2  dz a z  a
z 0 2o
 o I 1I 2b
 F1=  a (attractive)
2o
F 1 is attractive because it is directed toward the long wire; that is, F 1 is along  a 
due to the fact that loop side 1 and the long wire carry currents along the same direction.
0 oI1
Similarly, F 3 = I 2  dl 2 B 1  I 2  dz a z  a
z b 2 ( o  a )
 o I 1I 2b
 F 3= a (repulsive)
2 ( o  a ) 8
 Example 8.4 Solution
 o a  o I 1a 
F2 = I 2  d  a 
 
o 2
 o I 1 I 2  o a
= ln a z (parallel)
2 o
  o I 1a 
F4 = I 2  d  a 
o

   a
o 2
 I I  a
=  o 1 2 ln o a z (parallel)
2 o
The total force F on the loop is the sum of F 1 , F 2 , F 3 , and F 4 ; that is,
 o I 1I 2b  1 1 
F     ( a  )
2   o  o a 
which is an attractive force trying to draw the loop toward the wire.
The force F w on the wire,by Newtons third law, is  F see Figure 8.4(b).
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