Study Material

(Electromagnetism)

Chapter -27
Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces

Topics to be covered : 27.2 : Magnetic Field

27.3 : Magnetic Field Lines and Magnetic Flux

27.4: Motion of Charged Particles in a Magnetic Field

27.6: Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor

27.7: Magnetic Torque vector form (No derivation)

Conceptual Problems : TYU-27.2, 27.4

In class Problems : 27.2, 27.7

Assignment Problems : 27.5, 27.15, 27.44

Dr. Rajanikanta Parida

Department of Physics ITER, SOA University,
Bhubaneswar
[email protected]
Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

Magnetic poles
If a bar magnet, is free to rotate, one end points north. This end is called a
North Pole or N pole; the other end is a South Pole or S pole.
When a magnetized rod is floated on water or suspended by a string from
its center, it tends to line itself up in a north-south direction. The needle of
an ordinary compass is just such a piece of magnetized iron.
Forces between magnetic poles mimic forces between charges. Opposite
poles attract each other, and like poles repel each other. But, either pole of
a permanent magnet will attract a metal like iron.
Breaking a bar magnet does not separate its poles. Each piece has a north
and South Pole, even if the pieces are different sizes (The smaller the
piece, the weaker its magnetism.) but not two isolated poles.
There is no experimental evidence for magnetic monopoles.
In contrast to electric charges, magnetic poles always come in pairs and can't be
isolated.
Magnetic field of the earth
• The earth itself is a magnet.
• Its geographic north pole is close to a magnetic south pole. Due to
this the north pole of a compass needle points north.
• The earth’s magnetic axis is not quite parallel to its geographic axis
(the axis of rotation), so a compass reading deviates somewhat from
geographic north. This deviation, which varies with location, is
called magnetic declination or magnetic variation.
• Also, the magnetic field is not horizontal at most points on the
earth’s surface; its angle up or down is called magnetic inclination.
At the magnetic poles the magnetic field is vertical.
Electric current and magnets
In 1820, Hans Oersted discovered that a current-carrying wire causes a compass to
deflect.
This discovery revealed a connection between moving charge and magnetism.
We’ll find a RIGHT-HAND RULE applies to identify the direction of a magnetic field
from a current-carrying wire.

Right Thumb in direction of current

Right Hand Fingers curl in direction of Magnetic field.

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

The Magnetic Field

A magnetic field can be created in the surrounding space by a moving charge (or current).
The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field.
Magnetic field denoted by ‘B’ and its unit in SI system is Tesla and in CGS it is Gauss (10-7 Tesla)
The magnetic force on a moving charge
Let us consider a uniform magnetic field of strength B. A charge particle having charge ‘q’ is
allowed to move with a velocity ‘v’.
Then the magnitude of the magnetic force on the moving charge ‘q’ is given by
F = |q| v B sin ------------ (1)
Where, θ = angle between v and B

Fq vxB  ------------ (2)

The above equations are not derived from the theory rather it is obtained from the experiment.
Direction of the magnetic force (F) on a moving positive charge ‘q’ is along the direction of  v x B  and
the magnetic force on ‘-q’ charge is opposite the direction of  v x B  .

For both the cases the magnetic force (F) on a moving charge is perpendicular to both the velocity(v) and
the magnetic field (B).
The right-hand rule gives the direction of the
force on a positive charge.
The left-hand rule gives the direction of the
force on a negative charge.
From the figure it is clear that two charges of
equal magnitude but opposite signs moving
in the same direction in the same field will
experience magnetic forces in opposite
directions.
From equation (2) we have,
F
B
qv

Thus, 1 Tesla  1 Newton

1 Coulomb . meter / second

1 Newton 1 Newton
1 Tesla    Amper  Coulomb / second 
1 Coulomb . meter / second 1 Ampere . meter

The magnetic field of the earth is of the order of 10-4T or 1 G.

In the interior of atoms, the magnetic field of the order of 10 T occur. This is very important in the
analysis of atomic spectra.
Presently it is possible to produce magnetic field of the order of 120 T for millisecond time intervals in
the laboratories. .
All living cells are electrically active, and the feeble electric currents within the body produce weak but
measurable magnetic fields. The fields produced by skeletal muscles have magnitudes less than 10 -10T.
The brain produces magnetic fields that are far weaker, only about 10-19T.

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

Magnetic field lines:

Magnetic field is represented by magnetic field lines. Magnetic field lines starts from north and ends at
the South Pole. Some properties of the magnetic field lines are:
• The tangent to the magnetic field line at a point gives the direction
if magnetic field (B) at that point.
• If the field lines are close together, the field magnitude is large;
• If the field lines are far apart, then the field magnitude is small.
• Field lines never intersect each other because the direction of B at
each point is unique,
• At each point, the field lines point in the same direction a compass needle placed at that point.
Magnetic Flux and Gauss’s Law for Magnetism
We define the magnetic flux dϕB through a elements of area dA is
ϕB = B cosθ dA
The total magnetic flux through the surface is the sum of the contributions from the
individual area elements.
Thus
B   B dA
The total magnetic flux through a closed surface is always zero. Mathematically,
B   B dA  0
This equation is called Gauss’s law for magnetism. It also follows from this equation that
magnetic field lines always form closed loops.
Magnetic field lines have no ends. Unlike electric field lines that begin and end on electric
charges, magnetic field lines never have end points; such a point indicates the presence of a
monopole. Magnetic field lines begin at the north pole of a magnet and end at a south pole. But
the field lines of a magnet actually continue through the interior of the magnet and form closed
loops.
The SI unit of magnetic flux is Weber (1 Wb)
1 Wb = 1 T . m2 = 1 N . m/A

Motion of charged particles in a magnetic field

Let us consider a uniform magnetic field of strength B (into the plane of the
paper).
A charge particle having charge ‘q’ is allowed to move with a velocity ‘v’.
Then the magnitude of the magnetic force on the moving charge ‘q’ is given
by
Fq vxB 
Direction of the magnetic force on a moving charge ‘q’ is along the direction
 
of v x B i.e perpendicular to both the velocity and magnetic field (B)

As the force ( F ))and the velocity ( v ) are perpendicular each other, the particle will move in a circular
path.
Necessary centripetal force is given by the magnetic force experienced by the particle.
Thus, centripetal force = magnetic force

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

m v2
 q v B , where, R = radius of the circular path.
R
mv
 R 
qB

The angular speed ω of the particle is:

m v
v  R   
qB
qB qB 1 q B
   2f   f  
m m 2  m 
This frequency f is independent of the radius R of the path.
Special case:
Case I:
If the initial velocity is not perpendicular to the magnetic field
(here magnetic field is uniform).
The velocity has two components. The velocity component
parallel to the field is constant because there is no force
parallel to the field. Then the particle moves in a helix as
shown in the figure.
The radius of the helix is given by R  m v
qB
Where, v is now the component of velocity perpendicular to the B field.
Case II: Motion of a charged particle in a non-uniform magnetic field

a) Magnetic bottle: Magnetic bottle

consists of two circular coils carrying
current separated by some distance.
Particles near either end of the region
experience a magnetic force toward the
center of the region.
Particles with appropriate speeds spiral
repeatedly from one end of the region to
the other and back.
Because charged particles can be trapped in such a magnetic field, it is called a magnetic bottle. This
technique is used to confine very hot plasmas with temperatures of the order of 106 K.
b) Van Allen radiation belts around the earth
The earth’s non-uniform magnetic field traps charged particles coming from the sun in
doughnut-shaped regions around the earth. These regions are called the Van Allen radiation
belts. This is one way of containing an ionized gas that has a temperature of the order of
106 K, which would vaporize any material container.

Application:
1. Cyclotron is a device which produce accelerated particle. The particle move in nearly circular path.
While revolving in nearly circular path the particle increases its energy and orbital radii but not their
angular speed or frequency. Cyclotron frequency is given by

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

1 q B
f  
2  m 
2. Magnetron is a device which produce microwave radiation for microwave ovens and radar
systems, emits radiation with a frequency equal to the frequency of circular motion of
electrons in a vacuum chamber between the poles of a magnet and is given by
1 q B
f  
2  m 
The magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor
Let us consider a uniform magnetic field of strength B directed into the
plane of the paper. A current carrying conductor is kept inside the magnetic
field.
l = length of the conducting wire
A = Cross-sectional area of the conducting wire
i = current, flows from bottom to top.
Let’s assume that the moving charges are positive.
Then the magnitude of the magnetic force on a single moving charge of the
conductor is given by


F  q vd x B 
Here the drift velocity vd upward and is perpendicular to B . Thus θ = 900
Thus the magnitude of the force is
F = q vd B
Let n = number of charges per unit volume
Total number of charges contained in conductor = n (volume of the conductor) = n A l.
The total force F on all the moving charges in the conductor is
F = (nA l) (q vd B) = (nA q vd) (l B) = I l B ( since I = q vd A n)
In the vector form it can be written as:

FI  xB 
When the conductor is not straight, we can divide it into infinitesimal segments d l . The force dF on
each segment is


dF  I d x B 
Total force can be obtained by integrating the above equation over the total length of the conductor.
If the charge particles are negative:
If the moving charges are negative, such as electrons in a metal, then an upward current
corresponds to a down-ward drift velocity.
But because q is now negative, the direction of the force F is the same as before.

 
Thus, eqs. F  I  x B and dF  I d x B are valid for both positive and negative charges and
even when both signs of charge are present at once. This happens in some semiconductor
materials and in ionic solutions

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

Magnetic Torque in vector form (No derivation)

Let us take a rectangular current loop of sides ‘l’ and ‘b’. I amount of current is flowing it.
Each side of the loop will experience force due the magnetic field ‘B’.
But opposite forces cancels and the net force is zero.
But the loop experience a torque . This is given by
 = I B A sinφ ( Here, A is the area of the coil)
  = µ B sinφ
  xB
The product current and area of coil is called the magnetic dipole moment or
magnetic moment of the loop,
µ=IA
The right-hand rule determines the direction of the magnetic moment of a
current-carrying loop. This is also the direction of the loop’s area vector A .
Conceptual problem: TYU-27.2, 27.4
Test Your Understanding of Section 27.2
The figure at right shows a uniform magnetic field B directed into the plane of
the paper (shown by the X’s). A particle with a negative charge moves in the
plane. Which of the three paths—1, 2, or 3—does the particle follow?
Answer: path 3

Applying the right-hand rule to the vectors v (which points to the right) and B

(which points into the plane of the figure) says that the force F  q v x B 
on a positive charge would point upward. Since the charge is negative, the force points downward and
the particle follows a trajectory that curves downward.
Test Your Understanding of Section 27.4
(a) If you double the speed of the charged particle in Fig. 27.17a while keeping the magnetic field the
same (as well as the charge and the mass), how does this affect the radius of the trajectory?
(i) The radius is unchanged;
(ii) the radius is twice as large;
(iii) the radius is four times as large;
(iv) the radius is as large;
(v) the radius is as large.
(b) How does this affect the time required for one complete circular orbit?
(i) The time is unchanged;
(ii) the time is twice as long;
(iii) the time is four times as long;
(iv) the time is as long;
(v) the time is as long.
Answers: (a) (ii), (b) (i)
The radius of the orbit is directly proportional to the speed,
So doubling the particle speed causes the radius to double as well.

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

The particle has twice as far to travel to complete one orbit but is traveling at double the speed, so the
time for one orbit is unchanged. This result also follows from Eq. (27.12), which states that the angular
speed ω is independent of the linear speed v. Hence the time per orbit T=2/ω, likewise does not depend
on v.
In Class Problems: Example: 27.2, 27.7
Example 27.2 Magnetic flux calculations
Below figure is a perspective view of a flat surface with area 3cm2 in a uniform magnetic field B . The
magnetic flux through this surface is +0.90 mWb. Find the magnitude of the magnetic field and the
direction of the area vector A .
Solution: A = 3 cm2, B = + 0.90 m.Wb, θ = 600
B  A B cos 
B 0.9 x 103 Wb
B   6T
A cos   3 x 104 m 2  cos 600

Example 27.7 Magnetic force on a straight conductor

A straight horizontal copper rod carries a current of 50A from west to east in a region between the poles
of a large electromagnet. In this region there is a horizontal magnetic field toward the northeast (that is,
45° north of east) with magnitude 1.20 T.
(a) Find the magnitude and direction of the force on a 1.00-m section of rod.
(b) While keeping the rod horizontal, how should it be oriented to maximize the magnitude of the
force? What is the force magnitude in this case?
Solution: i = 50 A, B = 1.2 T
 1.00 m  ˆi
B  1.20 T   cos 45  ˆi   sin 450  ˆj

FI  xB 
 F  I 1.00 m  ˆi x 1.20 T   cos 45  iˆ   sin 450  ˆj

 
 F  I 1.00 m 1.20 T   cos 45  ˆi x iˆ   sin 450  iˆ x ˆj 
  
 1 ˆ
 F   50A  1.00 m 1.20 T  0  k
 2 
 F   42.4 N  kˆ

Assignment Problems: 27.5, 27.15, 27.44

27.5: An electron experiences a magnetic force of magnitude 4.60 x 10-15 N when moving at an angle
of 600 with respect to a magnetic field of magnitude 3.50 x 10-3 T. Find the speed of the
electron.
Ans: Magnitude of the charge of electron = 1.6 x 10−19 C.
F = q v B sin θ
F 4.6 x 10-15 N
v  = 9.49 x 106 m/s
q B sin θ  -19
 -3
1.6 x 10 C 3.5 x 10 T sin 600
 

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Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

27.15: An electron at point in figure has a speed of v0 = 1.41 x 106 m/s.

Find
a) the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field that will
cause the electron to follow the semicircular path from A to B
and
b) the time required for the electron to move from A to B.

Ans: a) The necessary centripetal force is provided by

the magnetic force experienced by the electron.
Thus,
mv2
FB =
R
mv2
q v B sin θ 
R
mv2 m v (9.1 x 10-31kg)(1.41 x106 m/s)
q v B  B  -31
 1.6 x 10-4 T
R qR (1.6 x 10 C)(0.05 m)
 B  1.6 x 10-4 T
b) The time is given by
length of the semicircular path πR π  0.05 m 
t    1.11 x 107s
speed v0  6
1.41 x 10 m/s 
27.44: The plane of a 5.0 cm x 8.0 cm rectangular loop of wire is parallel to a 0.19-T magnetic field.
The loop carries a current of 6.2 A.
(a) What torque acts on the loop?
(b) What is the magnetic moment of the loop?
(c) What is the maximum torque that can be obtained with the same total length of wire
carrying the same current in this magnetic field?

Ans: Area of the loop (A) = 0 050 m x 0 080 m

Magnetic field (B) = 0.19T.
Current in the loop (I) = 6.2 A
The plane of the loop is parallel to the field, the field is perpendicular to the normal to the
loop. So, φ= 900
(a) τ = . IAB sin φ => τ = . IAB = (6.2 A)(0 050 m)(0 080 m)(0 19 T) = 4.7 x 10-3 N.m

(b) μ = . IA = (6.2 A)(0 050 m)(0 080 m) = 0.025 A.m2

(c) Maximum area is when the loop is circular. The radius of the loop will be

R=
 0.05 m + 0.08 m   0.0414m
π
Area of the loop is A = R2 = (3.14) x (0.0414m)2 = 5.38x 10-3 m2
τ = . IAB = (6.2 A)( 5.38x 10-3 m2)(0 19 T) = 6.34 x 10-3 N.m

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