Ch.

5:
Ch.5: MAGNETOSTATICS.
MAGNETOSTATICS.

TOPICS OF INTEREST :

1. Magnetic Forces and Torques 6. Magnetic Properties of

2. The Biot-Savart Law Materials
3. Magnetic Force between Two 7. Magnetic Boundary Conditions
Parallel Conductors 8. Inductance
4. Maxwell’s Magnetostatic 9. Magnetic Energy
Equations
5. Vector Magnetic Potential

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.2

5.1 INTRODUCTION
The magnetic fields in a medium with magnetic permeability µ are
governed by the second pair of Maxwell’s equations :
(5.1a)
(5.1b)

where J is the current density.

The magnetic flux density B and the magnetic field
intensity H are related by:

(5.2)

The objective in this chapter is to develop an understanding of the

relationships between steady currents and the magnetic fields B and H
for various types of current distributions and in various types of media
and to introduce a number of related quantities such as the magnetic
vector potential A, the magnetic energy density ωm, and the inductance
of a conducting structure, L.

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The parallelism between these magnetostatic quantities and their

electrostatic counterparts is encapsulated in Table 5-I.

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5.2 MAGNETIC FORCES AND TORQUES

Define the magnetic flux density B at a point in space in terms of the

magnetic force Fm that would be exerted on a charged particle moving
with a velocity u were it to be passing through that point.
Based on experiments, the magnetic force Fm acting on a moving
particle of charge q can be cast in the form :

(5.1d)

 Accordingly, the strength of B is

measured in newtons/(C•m/s), which
also is called the tesla (T) in SI units.
 For a positively charged particle,
the direction of Fm is in the direction Fig.5-1
of the cross product u x B.

 If q is negative, the direction of Fm is reversed, as illustrated in

Fig. 5-1. The magnitude of Fm is given by
(5.4)

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 1.5

If a charged particle is in the presence of both an electric field E and a

magnetic field B, then the total electromagnetic force acting on it is:
(5.5)

This force is known as the Lorentz force.

 Electric and magnetic forces exhibit a number of important differences:

1. Whereas the electric force is always in the direction of the
electric field, the magnetic force is always perpendicular to the
magnetic field.

2. Whereas the electric force acts on a charged particle whether

or not it is moving, the magnetic force acts on it only when it is
in motion.
3. Whereas the electric force expends energy in displacing a
charged particle, the magnetic force does no work when a
particle is displaced.

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 Explaination for the last statement: because the magnetic force Fm is

always perpendicular to u, Fm .u = 0. Hence, the work performed when a
particle is displaced by a differential distance dl = u dt is

(5.6)

 Since no work is done, a magnetic field cannot change the kinetic

energy of a charged particle; the magnetic field can change the
direction of motion of a charged particle, but it cannot change its
speed .

5-1.1 MAGNETIC FORCE ON A CURRENT-CARRYING CONDUCTOR

A current flowing through a conducting wire consists of charged

particles drifting through the material of the wire.
Consequently, when a current-carrying wire is placed in a magnetic field,
it will experience a force equal to the sum of the magnetic forces
acting on the charged particles moving within it.

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 1.7 x̂

Consider, for example, the arrangement shown in Fig. 5-2 in which a

vertical wire oriented along the z-direction is placed in a magnetic field B
(produced by a magnet) oriented along the -x̂ direction (into the page).
With no current flowing in the wire, Fm = 0 and the wire maintains its
vertical orientation, as shown in Fig. 5-2(a), but when a current is
introduced in the wire, the wire deflects to the left (- ŷ direction) if the
current’s direction is upward (+ ẑ direction), and it deflects to the right
(+ ŷ direction) if the current’s direction is downward (- ẑ direction).

Fig. 5-2

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To quantify the relationship between Fm and the current I flowing

in the wire,
 Let us consider a small segment of the wire of cross-sectional
area A and differential length dl, with the direction of dl denoting
the direction of the current.
 Without loss of generality, we assume that the charge carriers
constituting the current I are exclusively electrons.
 If the wire contains a free-electron charge density ρve = -Nee,
then the total amount of moving charge contained in an elemental
volume of the wire is :
(5.6)

 And the corresponding magnetic force acting on dQ in the presence

of a magnetic field B is:
(5.8a)
 Since the direction of a current is defined as the direction of
flow of positive charges, the electron drift velocity ue is parallel
to dl, but opposite in direction. Thus, dl ue = -dlue and
(5.8b)

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 The current I flowing through a cross-sectional area A due to electrons

with density ρve = -Nee, moving with velocity ue is

I = ρve(-ue)A = (-Nee)(-ue) A =Nee A ue.

Hence,
(5.9)

 For a closed circuit of contour C carrying a current I,the total magnetic

force is :
(5.10)

Closed Circuit in a Uniform B Field

Consider a closed wire carrying a current I and

placed in a uniform external magnetic field B (i.e.
constant); in this case

(5.11)
Fig. 5-3(a).

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 This result, which is a consequence of the fact that the vector sum of
the displacement vectors dl over a closed path is equal to zero, states that
the total magnetic force on any closed current loop in a uniform
magnetic field is zero.

Curved wire in a Uniform B Field

If we are interested in the magnetic force

exerted on a wire segment, such as that shown in
Fig. 5-3(b), when placed in a uniform field B,
then

(5.12)
Fig. 5-3(b).

The integral of dl from a to b has the same value irrespective of the

path taken between a and b.

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Example 5-1 Force on a Semicircular Conductor

Fig. 5-4

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5-1.2 MAGNTIC TORQUE ON A CURRENT-CARRYING LOOP

When a force is applied on a rigid body pivoted about a fixed axis, the
body will react by rotating about that axis.
The strength of the reaction depends on the cross product of the
applied force vector F and the distance vector d, measured from a point on
the rotation axis (such that d is perpendicular to the axis) to the point of
application of F (Fig. 5-5). Fig. 5-5

The length of d is called the moment arm, and

the cross product is called the torque:
(5.13)

The unit for T is the same as that for work or energy, but torque does
not represent work or energy.
 In this case
(5.14)

where ldl =r, the radius of the disk, and F = IFI

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The torque along the positive z-direction corresponds to a tendency

for the cylinder to rotate in a counterclockwise direction and,
conversely, a negative torque corresponds to clockwise rotation.
 These directions are governed by the following right-hand rule:
when the thumb of the right hand is pointed along the direction
of the torque, the four fingers indicate the direction that the
torque is trying to rotate the body.
Fig. 5-5

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Magnetic Field in the Plane of the Loop

Consider a rectangular conducting loop made of rigid wire carrying a
current I; under the influence of an niform magnetic field B = x̂ B0 .
 Arms 1 and 3 of the loop are subjected to forces F1 and F3, respectively,
with
and (5.15b)

 No Fm is exerted on either arm 2 or 4 because B is

parallel to the direction of the current flowing in those
arms.
The moment arm is a/2 for both forces, but d1 and
d3 are in opposite directions, resulting in a total
magnetic torque of

(5.16)

where A = ab is the area of the loop.

Fig. 5-6
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Magnetic Field Perpendicular to the Axis of a Rectangular Loop

For B = x̂ B0, still perpendicular to the loop’s axis of rotation, but its
direction may be at any angle θ with respect to the loop’s surface
normal n̂

F2 =- F4 and are along the

rotation axis (or simply along the (4.5)
same axe); hence, the net torque
contributed by their combination
is zero.
The directions of the currents
in arms 1 and 3 are always
perpendicular to B regardless of Fig. 5-7
the magnitude of θ.
 Hence, F1 and F3 have the same expressions
given previously by Eqs. (5.15a and b), and their
moment arm is (a/2) sinθ. Consequently, the
magnitude of the net torque exerted by the (5.17)
magnetic field about the axis of rotation is
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 If the loop consists of N turns, each contributing a torque,

then the total torque is
(5.19)

The quantity NIA is called the magnetic moment m of the loop, and
it may be regarded as a vector m with direction n̂ , where n̂ is the
surface normal of the loop and governed by the following right-hand
rule: when the four fingers of the right hand advance in the
direction of the current I, the direction of the thumb specifies
the direction of n̂ .

That is: (5.19)

And in terms of vector m, the

torque vector T can be written as :

(5.20)
This expression is valid for any orientation of B and for a loop of any
shape.
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 1.17

5.3 THE BIOT-SAVART LAW

Through his experiments on the deflection of compass needles by current-
carrying wires, Hans Oersted established that currents induce magnetic
fields that form closed loops around the wires.
• Building upon Oersted’s results, Jean Biot and
Felix Savart arrived at an expression that
relates the magnetic field H at any point in
space to the current I that generates H.
•The Biot-Savart law states that the
differential magnetic field dH generated by a
steady current I flowing through a
differential length dl is given by :
Fig. 5-8
(5.21)

The SI unit for H is ampere.m/m2 = (A/m). And the direction of the

magnetic field is defined such that dl is along the direction of the current
I and the unit vector points from the current element to the observation
point.
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To determine the total magnetic field H due to a

conductor of finite size, we need to sum up the
contributions due to all the current elements making up
the conductor. Hence, the Biot-Savart law becomes :

(5.22)

5-3.1 MAGNETIC FIELD DUE TO SURFACE AND VOLUME DISTRIBUTIONS

The Biot-Savart law may also be

expressed in terms of distributed
current sources (Fig. 5-9) such as the
volume current density J, measured in
(A/m2), or the surface current density
JS, measured in (A/m).

The surface current density JS applies to currents

that flow on the surfaces of conductors in the form
Fig. 5-9
of sheets of effectively zero thickness.
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In terms of JS over a surface S or in terms of J over a volume ν, we

can use the equivalence given by
(5.23)

to express the Biot-Savart law as follows:

(5.24a)

(5.24b)

Fig. 5-9b: the total current

crossing the cross section S of
Fig. 5-9a: the total current crossing the the conductor is
cross section S of the cylinder is
I   J S dl
I   J .ds S
S

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Example 5-2 Magnetic Field of a Linear Conductor

(a)

(b)
Fig. 5-10

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(a)

(b)
(5.30)
Fig. 5-10

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Example 5-3 Magnetic Field of a Pie–Shaped Loop

Fig. 5-11

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Example 5-4 Magnetic Field of a Circular Loop

Fig. 5-11

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Fig. 5-11

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Fig. 5-12

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5-3.2 MAGNETIC FIELD ON A MAGNETIC DIPOLE

For a current-carrying loop with a single turn

situated in the x-y plane, having a magnetic
moment m  zˆ m with m = I a 2

(5.37)

Fig. 5-12

Had the problem been solved to find H at any distant point P’(R’, θ’, Φ’ ) in a
spherical coordinate system, where R’ is the distance between the center of
the loop and point P’, we would have obtained the expression :

(for R’ >> a ) (5.38)

A current loop with dimension smuch smaller than the distance

between the loop and the observation point is called a magnetic dipole.

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 1.27

This is because the pattern of its magnetic field is similar to that of

a permanent magnet, as well as to the pattern of the electric field of
the electric as shown in Fig. 5-13.

Fig. 5-13: Patterns of (a) the electric field of an electric dipole;

(b) the magnetic field of a magnetic dipole; and
(c) the magnetic field of a bar magnet.

 Far away from the sources, the field patterns are similar in all three cases.

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5-4 MAGNETIC FORCE BETWEEN TWO PARALLEL CONDUCTORS.

The magnetic force Fm that acts on a

current-carrying conductor when the
conductor is placed in an external magnetic
field
The current in the conductor, however, also
generates its own magnetic field.
Hence, if two current-carrying conductors
are placed in each other’s vicinity, each will
exert a magnetic force on the other. Fig.5-14

Let us consider two very long (or effectively infinitely long),

straight, parallel wires in free space, separated by a distance d and
carrying currents I1 and I2 in the same direction, as shown in Fig. 5-14.
Current I1 is located at y =-d/2 and I2 is located at y = d/2, and both
point in the z-direction.

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We denote B1 as the magnetic field due to

current I1, defined at the location of the wire
carrying the current I2 and,
conversely, B2 is the field due to I2 at the
location of the wire carrying current I1.
With I=I1, r = d, and ˆ   xˆ at the location of I2,
the field B1 is:
(5.39)

Fig.5-14
The force F2 exerted on a length Ɩ of wire I2 due to its presence in
field B1 may be obtained as

(5.40)

And the corresponding force per unit length is:

(5.41)

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A similar analysis performed for the force per unit length exerted
on the wire carrying I1 leads to:
(5.42)

Thus, F'1= -F’2 which means that the two wires attract each
other with equal forces.
If the currents are in opposite directions, the wires would repel
each other with equal forces.

Fig.5-14

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5-5 MAXWELL’S MAGNETOSTSTIC EQUATIONS

Let us now examine two additional important properties of magnetostatic

fields, those described mathematically by

5-5.1 GAUSS’S LAW FOR MAGNTISM

The magnetic analogue to a point charge is a magnetic pole, but
whereas electric charges can exist in isolation, magnetic poles do not.
Thus, there is no magnetic equivalence to a charge Q or a charge density
ρv and it is therefore not surprising that Gauss’s law for magnetism is given
by applying divergence theorem:
(5.44)

 The property described by this eqn has been called “the law of
nonexistence of isolated monopoles”; “the law of conservation of magnetic
flux,” and “Gauss’s law for magnetism,” among others .

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Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
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The difference between Gauss’s law for electricity and its counterpart
for magnetism may be viewed in terms of field lines.
For the electric field lines of the electric dipole shown in Fig. 5-15(a), the
electric flux through a closed surface surrounding one of the charges is
not zero .

Fig.5-15

In contrast, magnetic field lines always form continuous closed loops.

It is also true for a magnet, as illustrated in Fig. 5-15(b) for a bar magnet.
Because the magnetic field lines form closed loops, the net magnetic
flux through the closed surface surrounding the south pole of the magnet
(or through any other closed surface) is always zero, regardless of the
shape of that surface.

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Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.33

5-5.2 AMPERE’S LAW.

Let us examine the property represented by:

(5.45)

 By integrating both sides over an open surface S, we obtain the

integral form:
(5.46)

and is called Ampere’s circuital law (or simply Ampere’s law) under
magnetostatic conditions (steady currents).
 And then by invoking Stokes’s theorem we obtain the result:

(5.47)

where C is the closed contour bounding the surface S and I = ∫ J.ds is the
total current flowing through S.
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The sign convention for the direction of C is taken so that I and H

satisfy the right-hand rule defined earlier in connection with the Biot-
Savart law.
In words, Ampere’s circuital law states that the line integral of H
around a closed path is equal to the current traversing the surface
bounded by that path.

Fig.5-16
By way of illustration in in fig.5-16: Ampere’s law states that the line
integral of H around a closed contour C is equal to the current
traversing the surface bounded by the contour.
This is true for contours (a) and (b), but the line integral of H is zero
for the contour in (c) because the current I (denoted by the symbol ) is
not enclosed by the contour C.
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A similar statement applies to Ampere’s law: its usefulness is limited to

symmetric current distributions that allow the choice of convenient
Ampèrian contours around them, as illustrated by the following examples:

Example 5-5: Magnetic Field of a Long Wire

Fig.5-17

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Fig.5-17

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Fig.5-17: (b) cross-sectional

view; and
(c) a plot of H versus

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Example 5-6 Magnetic Field of a Long Wire

Fig.5-18

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 1.39

Fig.5-18

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Example 5-6 Magnetic Field of a Long Wire

Fig.4-24

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Example 5-7 Magnetic Field of a Infinite Current Sheet

Fig.5-19

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Example 5-7 Magnetic Field of a Infinite Current Sheet-Cntd

Fig.5-19

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5-6 VECTOR MAGNETIC POTENTIAL

Recall that, in treatment of electrostatic fields, the electrostatic
potential V and the electric field E were related by E = -V
This relationship proved useful not only in relating the electric field
distribution in circuit elements (such as resistors and capacitors) to the
voltage differences across them, but it also proved more convenient in
certain cases to first determine the potential V due to a given charge
distribution and then apply the relationship E = -V to find E than to use
Coulomb’s law directly to find E.

Explore now a similar approach in connection with the magnetic flux

density B. According to . B = 0 , let us define B in terms of a magnetic
potential with the constraint that such a definition guarantees that the
divergence of B is always equal to zero.
This can be realized by taking advantage of the vector identity which
states that, for any vector A,

(5.52)

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Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
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 Hence, by defining the vector magnetic potential A such that

(5.53)
The SI unit for A is (Wb/m).
 With B =µH, the differential form of Ampere’s law can be written as:

(5.54)

 By substituting Eq. (5.53) into Eq. (5.54), we have:

(5.55)

 For any vector A, the Laplacian of A obeys the vector identity given
and defined as
(5.56)
where 2 A in cartesian coordinates is

(5.57) ⇒   . A    2 . A = J (5.56)

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Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.45

 From vector calculus we have a fair amount of latitude in specifying

a value or a functional form for . A , without conflicting with the
requirement represented by Eq..  xA   0. The simplest among these
allowed specifications is
(5.59)

 Using this choice leads to the vector Poisson equation given by :

(5.60)

 Using the definition for  2 . A given in cartesian coordinates, the vector

Poisson’s equation can be broken up into three:

(5.61)

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 In electrostatics, Poisson’s equation for the scalar potential V is given

by:
(5.62)

and its solution for a volume charge distribution ρv occupying a volume

ν’ was given by Eq. (4.61) as :

(5.63)

 Poisson’s equations for Ax, Ay, and Az are mathematically identical in

form to Eq. (5.62). Hence, for a current density J with Jx-component
distributed over a volume ν’, the solution for Eq. (5.61a) is :
(5.64)

And similar solutions can be written for Ay in terms of Jy and Az in

terms of Jz .
 The three solutions can be combined into a vector equation of the
form:
(5.65)

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If the current distribution is given in the form of a surface current

density Js, over a surface S’, then Jdν’ should be replaced with Jsds’ and
ν’ should be replaced with S’; and, similarly, for a line distribution, Jdv’
should be replaced with IdƖ’ and the integration should be performed
over the associated line path Ɩ’.
The vector magnetic potential the magnetic field due to current-
carrying conductors.
Except for simple current distributions with symmetrical geometries
that lend themselves to the application of Ampere’s law, the choice
usually is between the approaches provided by the Biot-Savart law and
the vector magnetic potential, and among those two the latter often is
easier to apply because ˆ
it is easier to perform the integration given by '
1 dl x R  J d
Biot-Savart ( H = 4  R ) than to perform the integration given by A =  '
2
l 4 l
R
The magnetic flux P linking a surface S is defined as the total magnetic
flux density passing through S, or

(5.66) ⇒  =   ∇xA . ds =  A.dl (5.67)

S C

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5.7 MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF MEDIA: MAGNETIC PERMEABILITY

By analogy with electrostatics, we can express B as

(5.74)
or
(5.75)
where µ, the magnetic permeability of the material, is given in terms
of χ m by :
(5.76)

 Often it is convenient to define the magnetic properties of a material in

terms of the relative permeability µr:

(5.77)

where µ0 is the permeability of free space.

 A material usually is classified as diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or
ferromagnetic on the basis of the value of its χ m .

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 Diamagnetic materials have negative susceptibilities and paramagnetic

materials have positive susceptibilities.

 However, the absolute magnitude of χ m is is on the order of 105 for

both classes of materials, which allows us to ignore χ m relative to 1.
This gives µr≅ 1 or µ≅ µo for diamagnetic and paramagnetic
substances, which include dielectric materials and most metals.
In contrast, |µr| >>1 for ferromagnetic materials; |µr|of purified iron,
for example, is on the order of 2 x 105.

(5.67)

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5.8 MAGNETIC BOUNDARY CONDITIONS

Analogies between electric field quanties {E,D} and magnetic field

quanties {B,H} in order derive a similar set of boundary conditions for the
magnetic field quantities B and H.
By applying Gauss’s law to a pill box that straddles the boundary, we
determined that the difference between the normal components of the
electric flux densities in the two media is equal to the surface charge
density ρs. That is,
(5.78)

 By analogy, application of Gauss’s law for magnetism would lead to the

conclusion that
(5.79)

 This result states that the normal component of B is continuous across

the boundary between two adjacent media.
 Using the relation B1=µ1H1 and B2 = µ2H2 for linear, isotropic media, the
boundary condition for H corresponding is
(5.80)

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Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.51


H 2t  - H1t  = J s
or
H 2t - H1t = J s (A / m)
 This result can be generalized to a vector form that incorporates the
directional relationship defined by the right-hand rule,
where n̂ is : normal unit vector pointing
(5.84)
away from medium 2.
 At the interface between media with finite conductitity σ,J = 0  H 2t = H1t
By comparison of the 2 sets relations of {E,D} and {B,H},we note that:
 Whereas the normal component of B is continuous across the boundary
the normal component of D may not be (unless ρs = 0).
 Whereas the tangential component of E is continuous across the
boundary the tangential component of H may not be (unless the surface
current density Js = 0).
Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.52

To obtain the boundary condition for the tangential component of H,

with reference to Fig. 5-24, apply Ampere’s law to a closed rectangular
path with sides  l and  h, and then let  h —> 0, we end up with the result

 According to Ampere’s law,

I is the net current crossing the
surface of the loop in the
Fig.5-24
direction specified by the right-
hand.
 For the directions of H1 and H2 and the direction of the integration contour
C indicated in Fig. 5-24, the component of H2 tangential to the boundary, Ht2,
is parallel to and in the same direction as dl over segment ab, but the
tangential component of H1 is antiparallel to dl over segment cd.
 Furthermore, as  h ->0, the surface of the loop approaches a thin line
of length  Ɩ. Hence, the total current flowing through this thin line is
I =Js  Ɩ, where Js is the magnitude of the normal component of the
surface current density traversing the loop.
Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.53


H 2t  - H1t  = J s
or
H 2t - H1t = J s (A / m)
 This result can be generalized to a vector form that incorporates the
directional relationship defined by the right-hand rule,
where n̂ is : normal unit vector pointing
(5.84)
away from medium 2.
 At the interface between media with finite conductitity σ,J = 0  H 2t = H1t
By comparison of the 2 sets relations of {E,D} and {B,H},we note that:
 Whereas the normal component of B is continuous across the boundary
the normal component of D may not be (unless ρs = 0).
 Whereas the tangential component of E is continuous across the
boundary the tangential component of H may not be (unless the surface
current density Js = 0).
Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.54

5.9 INDUCTANCE
An inductor is the magnetic analogue of
an electrical capacitor.
Just as a capacitor can store electric
energy in the electric field present in the
medium between its conducting surfaces,
an inductor can store magnetic energy in
the volume comprising the inductor. Fig.5-25

A typical example of an inductor is a coil consisting of multiple turns

of wire wound in a helical geometry around a cylindrical core, as shown
in Fig. 5-25(a). Such a structure is called a solenoid.
The core may be air filled or may contain a magnetic material with
magnetic permeability µ.
If the wire carries a current I and the turns are closely spaced, the
solenoid can produce a relatively uniform magnetic field within its
interior region, and its magnetic field pattern resembles that of a
permanent magnet, as illustrated by the field lines in Fig. 5-25(b).

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.55

Fig.5-26
5-9.1 MAGNETIC FIELD IN A SOLENOID
First, let us derive an expression for the
magnetic flux density B in the interior region
of a tightly wound solenoid with n turns per
unit length.
Treat the turns as circular loops, as shown
in Fig. 5-26.
The solenoid is of length l and radius a and
carries a current I.

Let us start by considering the magnetic flux density B at point P,

located on the axis of the solenoid.
 The magnetic field H at a distance z along the axis of a circular loop
of radius a was derived as:
(5.86)

where I’ is the current carried by the loop.

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.56

Fig.5-26
 For an incremental length dz of the
solenoid as an equivalent loop of ndz turns
and carrying a current I’ = Indz, then the
induced field at point P is
(5.87)

 The total field B at P is obtained by

integrating the contributions from the
entire length of the solenoid.
 By expressing the variable z in terms of the angle θ.That is,
(5.88a)

(5.88b)
(5.88c)
 Upon substituting the last two expressions in Eq. (5.87) and integrating
from θ1 to θ2 , we have

(5.89)

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.57

 If the solenoid length Ɩ is much larger than its radius a, then θ1≃ -90°
and θ2≃90°, in which case Eq. (5.89) reduces to

(5.90)

where N = nƖ is the total number of turns

over the length Ɩ.

Even though the expression given by Eq. (5.90) was derived for the field
B at the midpoint of the solenoid, it is approximately valid at all points in
the interior of the solenoid, except near the ends.

5-9.2 SELF-INDUCTANCE

Let us discuss now of inductance, which includes self-inductance,

representing the magnetic flux linkage of a coil or circuit with itself, and
mutual inductance, which involves the magnetic flux linkage in a circuit
due to the magnetic field generated by a current in another circuit.

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.58

Usually, when the term inductance is used, the intended reference is

to self-inductance.
We know that the magnetic flux Ф linking a surface S is given by
(5.91)

In a solenoid with an approximately uniform magnetic field given by

Eq. (5.90), the flux linking a single loop is

(5.92)

where S is the cross-sectional area of the loop.

Magnet flux linkage Λ is defined as the total magnetic flux linking a

given circuit or conducting structure.
 For a solenoid with N turns:

(5.93)

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.59

If, on the other hand, the structure consists

of two separate conductors, as in the case of
the parallel-wire and coaxial transmission lines
shown in Fig. 5-27, the flux linkage associated
with a length Ɩ of either line refers to the flux
through the closed surface between the two
conductors, as highlighted by the shaded areas
in Fig. 5-27.
In reality, there is also some magnetic flux
that passes through the conductors themselves, Fig.5-27

but it may be ignored by assuming that the currents flow only on the
surfaces of the conductors, in which case the magnetic fields inside the
conductors are zero.
For the parallel-wire transmission line, the currents flow on the outer
surfaces of the wires, and for the coaxial line, the current flows on the
outer surface of the inner conductor and on the inner surface of the
outer conductor (the current-carrying surfaces are those adjacent to
the electric and magnetic fields present in the region between the
conductors).
Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.60

The self-inductance of any conducting

structure is defined as the ratio of the
magnetic flux linkage Λ to the current I
flowing through the structure:
(5.94)

The SI unit for inductance is the henry (H),

which is equivalent to webers per ampere
(Wb/A).
For a solenoid

(5.95) Fig.5-27

and for two-conductor configurations similar to those of Fig. 5-27,

(5.96)

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.61

Example 5-8 Inductance of a Coaxial Transmission Line

Fig.5-28

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.62

5-9.3 MUTUAL INDUCTANCE

Magnetic coupling between two different
conducting structures is described in terms of
the mutual inductance between them.
For simplicity, let us assume that we have
two closed loops with surfaces S1 and S2 and
a current I flowing through the first loop.
Fig.5-29

 The magnetic field B1 generated by I1 results in a fluxФ12

through loop 2, given by
(5.100)

 And if loop 2 consists of N2 turns all coupled by B1, then the total
magnetic flux linkage through loop 2 due to B1 is :

(5.101)
 The mutual inductance associated with this magnetic coupling is given by

(5.102)

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.63

Mutual inductance is important in transformers wherein the windings of

two or more circuits share a common magnetic core, as illustrated by the
toroidal arrangement shown in Fig. 5-30.

Fig.5-30

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.64

5-10 MAGNETIC ENERGY

Let us consider an inductor with inductance L connected to a current source.
 Suppose that we were to increase the current i flowing through the inductor
from zero to a final value I.
 From circuit theory, we know that the voltage v across the inductor is given
by v = L di/dt.
 Power p is equal to the product of v and I, and the time integral of power
is work, or energy.
 Hence, the total energy in joules (J) expended in building up the current in
the inductor is:

(5.103)

We call this the magnetic energy stored in the inductor.

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.65

Let us consider the solenoid inductor.

 Its inductance is given by L = µN2S/Ɩ, and the magnitude of
the magnetic flux density in its interior is given from Eq. (5.90) by
B = µNI/Ɩ. => I = BƖ/(µN) .
 If we use these expressions for L and I in Eq. (5.103), we get

(5.104)

where ν= lS is the volume of the interior of the solenoid and H= B/µ.

 The magnetic energy density ωm is defined as the magnetic energy
Wm per unit volume,
(5.105)

 This expression is equally valid for any medium with H.

 For any volume ν containing a material with permeability µ the total
magnetic energy stored in the medium due to the presence ofH is :
(5.106)

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 (4.107)

Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.66

Example 5-9 Magnetic Energy in a Coaxial Cable

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza
 1.67

Example 5-9 Magnetic Energy in a Coaxial Cable-Cntd

Ir. D.M.Ngendo EE411/ April 2008 Dept. of Electrical and Electronics Engineering-Unza