Chapter 4:

MAGNETOSTATIC FIELDS

BY
Mujahid Jemal (MSc)
Lecturer at Department of Electrical &Electronics Technology
and ATTC Registrar

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 Outline
 Introduction
 Magnetic Field and its Properties
 Biot Savart law
 Ampere’s circuital law

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 Introduction
 Until now static electrostatic fields are discussed.
 As it is already known that a static electric field is
produced by the charges at rest (static charge).
 For many years, the electric and magnetic fields were
thought to be two separate phenomena.
• The scientist Oersted has discovered the relation between
electric and magnetic fields in 1820.

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• He noticed that the needle of a compass next to a wire carrying
current turned so that the needle was perpendicular to the wire.
• Ørsted investigated and found the mathematical law which
governs how strong the field was, which is now called Ørsted’s
Law.
• He states that when a steady electric current passes through a
wire it creates a magnetic field around it.
• As we have noticed, an electrostatic field is produced by static or
stationary charges.
• If the charges move with a constant velocity, they create an electric
current and this constant current produces a static magnetic field.
• Moving electric charges produces Magnetic field

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• Therefore, a magnetostatic field is produced by a constant
current flow (or direct current).

• This current flow may be due to magnetization currents as in

permanent magnets, electron-beam currents as in vacuum
tubes, or conduction currents as in current-carrying wires.
• If such a current flow is steady i.e. time invariant then the
magnetic field produced is a steady magnetic field which is
also a time invariant.

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• The direct current (d.c.) is a steady flow of current
• Hence magnetic field produced by a conductor carrying a dc. current is a
static steady magnetic field.

• The study of steady magnetic field, existing in a given space, produced due
to the flow of direct current through a conductor is called magnetostatics.

• The development of the motors, transformers, microphones, compasses,

telephone bell ringers, television focusing controls, advertising displays,
memory stores, and so on, are dependent on the magneto statics.

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 Magnetic Field and its Properties
• To understand these properties, consider a permanent magnet.
• It has two poles, north (N) and south (S).
• The region around a magnet within which the influence of the
magnet can be experienced is called magnetic field.
• The existence of such a field can be experienced with the
help of compass needle.
• Such a field is represented by imaginary lines around the
magnet which are called magnetic lines of force.

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• These are introduced by the Scientist Michael Faraday.
• The direction of such lines is always from N pole to S pole,
as shown in the Fig.4.1.
• These lines of force are also called magnetic lines of flux or
magnetic flux lines.

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• An important difference between electric flux lines and
magnetic flux lines can be observed here.
• In case of electric flux, the flux lines originate from an
isolated positive charge and diverge to terminate at infinity.
• While for a negative charge, electric flux lines converge on a
charge, starting from infinity.
• But in case of magnetic flux, the poles exist in pairs only.
• An isolated magnetic pole can not exist.

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• Hence every magnetic flux line starting from north pole must
end at south pole and complete the path from south to north
internal to the magnet.

• Thus magnetic flux lines exist in the form of closed loop.

• This is true whether the field is due to permanent magnet or

due to conductor carrying direct current.

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 Magnetic Field due to Current Carrying Conductor
• When a straight conductor carries a direct current, it produces a magnetic
field around it, all along its length.

• The lines of force in such a case are in the form of concentric circles in the
planes at right angles to the conductor as shown in Fig. below.

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• The direction of such magnetic flux can be experienced using
a compass needle.

• The direction of concentric circles around, depends on the

direction of current through the conductor.

• As long as direction of current is constant and current is time

independent

• Magnetic lines of force are also constant, static and time

independent, giving a steady magnetic field in the space
around the conductor.

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• A right hand thumb rule is used to determine the direction of
magnetic field around a conductor carrying a direct current.
• It states that, hold the current carrying conductor in the right
hand such that the thumb pointing in the direction of current
and parallel to the conductor, then curled fingers point in the
direction of the magnetic lines of flux around it.

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• Practically the current carrying conductor is represented by a
small circle i.e. top view of straight conductor while the
direction of current through it is indicated by a 'cross' or a
'dot'.
• The cross indicates that the current direction is going into the
plane of the paper away from the observer.
• The dot indicates that the current direction is coming out of
the plane of the paper coming towards the observer.

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• Using right hand thumb rule, the direction of magnetic flux
around such a conductor is either clockwise or anticlockwise
as shown in the Fig. 4.4.

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• Another method of identifying the direction of magnetic flux around a
conductor is right handed screw rule. As illustrates this rule in below

• It states that, imagine a right handed screw to be along the conductor

carrying current with its axis parallel to the conductor and tip pointing in
the direction of the current flow.

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• Then the direction of magnetic field is given by the direction in
which the screw must be turned so as to advance in the
direction of the current flow.

• Thus the magnetic lines of force i.e. magnetic flux lines always
form a closed loop and exist in the form of concentric circles,
around a current carrying conductor.

• The total number of magnetic lines of force is called a

magnetic flux denoted as ∅. It is measured in weber (Wb).

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 Magnetic Field Intensity
• The quantitative measure of strongness or weakness of the magnetic field is
given by magnetic field intensity or magnetic field strength. It is denoted as
H.
• It is a vector quantity. This is similar to the electric field intensity E in
electrostatics.
• The magnetic field intensity at any point in the magnetic field is defined as
the force experienced by a unit north pole of one weber strength, when
placed at that point.
• The magnetic flux lines are measured in webers (Wb) while magnetic field
intensity is measured in newton's/weber (N/Wb) or amperes per meter
(A/m).

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 Magnetic Flux Density
• The total magnetic lines of force i.e magnetic flux crossing a
unit area in a plane at right angles to the direction of flux is
called magnetic flux density.

• It is denoted as B and is a vector quantity.

• It is measured in weber per square metre (WB/m²) which is

also called tesla T. This is similar to the electric flux density D
in electrostatics.

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 Relation between B and H
• As we know in electrostatics, E and D are related to each other
through permittivity 𝜀 of the region.
• In magnetostatics, the B and H are related to each other
through the property of the region in which current carrying
conductor is placed.
• It is called permeability denoted as 𝜇.

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• For a free space, the permeability is denoted as 𝜇0 and its
value is 4𝜋 × 10−7 .
• As 𝜀 is measured in F/m, the permeability 𝜇 is measured in
henneries per meter (H/m).
• For any other region, a relative permeability is specified as 𝜇𝑟
and 𝜇 = 𝜇0 𝜇𝑟
• Hence, the B and H are related as,

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• In Magneto-statics there are two major laws governing
magneto-static fields:

 Biot-Savart's law and

 Ampere's circuit law.

• Like Coulomb's law, Biot-Savart's law is the general law of

magnetostatics.

• Just as Gauss's law is a special case of Coulomb's law,

Ampere's law is a special case of Biot-Savart's law.

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 Biot Savart’s law
• A magnetic field may be produced by a time-varying electric field, a
permanent magnet, or a direct current (dc).

• For the matter, we are concerned only with the magnetic field
produced by the direct current.

• As stated earlier, the charges moving with a constant velocity

produce electric current which generates magnetic field.

• An important property of the magnetic fields is the magnetic field

intensity, which is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field.

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• In magneto-statics, there is Biot-Savart's law which is used to
determine the magnetic field intensity at a point due to a
differential current element of a current-carrying conductor.

• A differential current element implies the current flowing

through an infinitely small section of a current-carrying
filamentary conductor.

• For example, if the current I is flowing through a differential

vector length dl of current-carrying filament, then the
differential current element is taken as Id1.

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• To understand Biot-Savart's law, consider a conductor of
length l through which current I is flowing as shown in Fig.
below.

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• Assume a small section of length dl and let P be the point at a distance
R from the element where the magnetic field intensity is to be
determined.

• Then Biot-Savart's law states that the differential magnetic field

intensity dH produced at point P due to a differential current element
is:

 Directly proportional to the product of the current I, the length of

differential element(dl) and the sine of the angle between the element
and the line joining point P to the element.

 Inversely proportional to the square of the distance R between the

point P and the differential element.
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• Mathematically, the Biot-Savart law can be stated as,

………….(1)

………….(2)

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 ………….(3)

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 ………….(4)

• The closed line integral is required to ensure that all the

current elements are considered.
• This is because current can flow only in the closed path,
provided by the closed circuit.

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• If the current element is considered at point 1 and point P at
point 2, as shown. in the Fig. 4.7 then,

………….(5)

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 ………….(6)

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 Biot-Savart Law in terms of Distributed
Sources

• There are different current distributions: line current, surface

current, and volume current as shown in Figure 4.8.

Figure 4.8: Current distributions: (a) line

current, (b) surface current, (c) volume
current.

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• If we define K as the surface current density (in amperes/meter) and J as the
volume current density (in amperes/meter square), the source elements are
related as
………….(7)

• Thus in terms of the distributed current sources, the Biot-

Savart law can be expressed as ,

………….(8)

………….(9)

………….(10)

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 H due to Infinitely Long Straight Conductor
• Consider an infinitely long straight conductor, along z-axis.
• The Current passing through the conductor is a direct current
of I amp.
• The field intensity H at a point P is to be calculated, which is
at a distance 'r' from the z. this is shown in fig. below.

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• Consider small differential element at point 1, along the z-axis ,
at a distance z from origin.

∴ Id𝐿ത =Idz
• The distance vector joining point 1 to point 2 is 𝑅ത12 and
can be written as,

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 ………….(11)

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 …….(12)

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 ………….(13)

………….(14)

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 Circular Conductor
• Consider a circular conducting wire loop carrying current I located on xy-axis
(that is, z=0 plane) as shown in Fig. below.
• Let P be the field point located on z-axis at a distance “a” from the origin.
• The differential element dl is located at (x, y, 0) at a distance of 𝜌 from the
origin. The distance between the point P and the element dl is R.

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• The magnetic field intensity (dH) at point P due to differential
current element Idl using Biot-Savart's law can be obtained as:
………….(15)
• Recall from previous section that the differential length in cylindrical coordinate
system is given as:

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 Note:
• A point P in cylindrical coordinates is represented as (p, 𝜙 , z)
and is as shown in Fig above. p is the radius of the cylinder
passing through P or the radial distance from the z-axis: 𝜙, called
the azimuthal angle, is measured from the x-axis in the xy-plane;
and z is the same as in the Cartesian system.
• The ranges of the variables are

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• The relationships between the variables (x, y, z) of the Cartesian
coordinate system and those of the cylindrical system (p, 𝜙, z) are
easily obtained from Fig. below.

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• Transforming a point from Cartesian (x, y, z) to cylindrical (p, 𝜙, z)

• For (p, 𝜙, z) →(x, y, z) transformation

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 Ԧ 𝑅 and d𝑙Ԧ × 𝑅 in eq. above, we
Substituting the values of d𝑙,
get:

……(16)

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 Thus eq.(16) reduces to:

……(17)
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 Solenoid
• A solenoid is a wire of copper wrapped around a
cylindrical core forming a helix [see Fig. a].

• It is an arrangement in which long conductor is wound

with number of turns close together to form a coil.

• The part or element around which the conductor is wound

is called as core of the solenoid.

• Core may be air or may be some magnetic material.

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• A solenoid is a type of electromagnet formed by a helical coil
of wire whose length is substantially greater than its diameter,
which generates a controlled magnetic field.
- The axial length of conductor is much more than the diameter of
turns.

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The rules to determine the direction of flux and poles of the magnet
formed:

1. The right hand thumb rule

 Hold the solenoid in the right hand such that curled fingers
point in the direction of the current through the curled
conductor, then the outstretched thumb along the axis of the
solenoid point to the North pole of the solenoid or point the
direction of the flux lines inside the core.

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• A solenoid creates controlled magnetic field and is used as
electromagnets.

• Consider a cross-section of a solenoid of length l and radius “a”

consisting of N turns of wire which carries the current I as
shown in Fig (b).

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• Let P be the field point located on the axis of solenoid, that is,
y-axis, and 𝛼1 , and 𝛼2 , be the angles subtended by the ends of
the solenoid at point P.
• As a solenoid consists of circular loops, we can here use the
relation given in Equation (17) with the difference that 𝜌 in the
expression is replaced with radius “a”, a is replaced with y and
𝑎𝑧 with 𝑎𝑦 as point P lies on the y-axis in this case.
That is.

……(18)

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• Now, consider a small element of solenoid of length dy.
• As the solenoid consists of N turns and its length is l, the number of turns
per unit length of solenoid will be N/l.
• This implies that the number of circular turns in the length dy of solenoid
𝑁
will be equal to ( )dy or ndy
𝑙

𝑁
where n= .
𝑙

• Thus, using the relation given in Equation (18), the expression for the
contribution to magnetic field intensity at point P due to element dy of
solenoid is given as:

……(19)

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• The element dy of solenoid subtends an angle 𝛼 at point P as
shown in Fig. (b).
• Thus, we can write:

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• Substituting the value of dy from the above equation (19), we get:

……(20)
• Integrating eq.(20), we obtain the y- component of magnetic field
intensity due to solenoid as:

……(21)

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 ……(22)
Equation (22) represents the magnetic field intensity in a solenoid of length L.

• Now, consider a case where we have to determine the magnetic field intensity at
the center of the solenoid.
• For this case, y = 1/2, that is, the point P will be located at (0, 1/2, 0), as shown
in Fig. below.

Fig. : Magnetic field intensity at the center of

solenoid

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Observe from Figure above that:

• Since cos ( 180° − 𝛼1 )=-cos 𝛼1 . we have cos 𝛼2 =-cos 𝛼1 .

• Substituting these values in Equation (21), the magnetic field
intensity at the center of solenoid is obtained as:

……(23)
• Now, if the length of the solenoid is much greater as compared to its radius (that is, l≫a)
such that we can ignore the term 𝑎2 in the above equation, then we get the magnetic
field intensity at the center of solenoid as:

……(24)

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 Ampere’s circuital law
• Ampere's law is similar to Gauss's law and it is easily applied
to determine H when the current distribution is symmetrical.

• Ampere's law is a special case of Biot-Savart's law.

• This law states that, the line integral of magnetic field intensity
H around a closed path is exactly equal to the direct current
enclosed by that path.

• Mathematically it is expressed as:

‫ ∙ 𝐻 𝑙ׯ‬d𝐿 =𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 ………. (25)

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• Equation (25) represents the Ampere's circuit law in integral
form.
• If we apply Stokes's theorem to the term on L.H.S.
• In Equation (25), we can replace the line integral of 𝑯 with
the surface integral of its curl, as shown below.

𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = ‫ ∙ 𝐻 𝑙ׯ‬d𝐿 =‫∙ )𝐻 × 𝛻(𝑠׬‬d𝑠Ԧ ……(26)

• As we know, the current can be expressed in terms of current

density 𝐽Ԧ as:

𝐼𝑒𝑛𝑐 = ‫𝐽 𝑠׬‬Ԧ ∙d𝑠Ԧ

……(27)

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 N.B:
Stokes's theorem states that the circulation of a vector field A
around a (closed) path is L equal lo the surface integral the curl
of A over the open surface S bounded by L (see Figure )
provided that A and 𝛻X A are continuous on S.

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• Comparing Equations (26) and (27), we get:

𝛻 × 𝐻 = 𝐽Ԧ ……(28)

• Equation (28) represents the Ampere's circuit law in differential

(point) form.
• This also represents 3rd Maxwell's equations.
• As 𝛻 × 𝐻≠0, this implies that the magneto-static field is not
conservative.

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 Magnetic Field Intensity inside the Toroid
• A toroid is a circular hollow tube on which the current carrying
wires are wound.
• It can be considered as a solenoid with its ends connected.
Figure below shows a toroid with N turns and carrying current I.

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• To determine the magnetic field intensity inside the toroid, let
us consider a circular Amperian path of radius p (shown by
dotted circle in Figure).

• On applying Ampere's circuit law to this path, we obtain:

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 An approximate value of H is

Notice that this is the same as the formula obtained for H for points well inside a very long
solenoid (𝑙 ≫ 𝑎). Thus a straight solenoid may be regarded as a special toroidal coil for
which 𝜌𝑜 → ∞.

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• In toroid, the core is circular and hence using right hand thumb
rule, the direction of flax in the core, can be determined.
• This is shown in the Fig (a) and (b). In the Fig. (a)
corresponding to direction of winding, the flux set in the core is
anti-clockwise while in the Fig. (b) due to direction winding, the
direction of flux set in the core is clockwise.
• The winding is also called magnetizing winding or magnetizing
coil as it magnetizes.

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 Derivation of 4th Maxwell's Equation

……(29)

……(30)

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• By applying divergence theorem to eq.(30), we obtain:

……(31)

• This equation is the fourth Maxwell's equation and shows

that there is no sources or sinks in magneto-statics.

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 Magnetic Potential

……(32)

……(33)

……(34)
……(35)
By comparing eq. above we get it:
……(36)

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 Can also be expressed as,

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Summarized Maxwell’s equations for static Electric &
Magnetic fields

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 Sign Convention for 𝜶𝟏 , and 𝜶𝟐
• If both the ends of conductor are above point P, then 𝜶𝟏 , and
𝜶𝟐 are positive.

• If both the ends of conductor are below point P, then both 𝜶𝟏 ,

and 𝜶𝟐 are negative.

• While if one end of the conductor is above P, and other below

then 𝜶𝟏 , is negative and 𝜶𝟐 positive. This is shown in the Fig.
below.

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 Examples
1. An infinite long straight conductor carrying current 3A, is
placed on z-axis. Find magnetic field strength at (1, 2, 1).
2. A circular loop located on 𝑥 2 + 𝑦 2 =9, z=0 carries a current
of 10 A. Determine H at (0, 0, 5) and (0, 0, -5). Taken the
direction of current in anti-clockwise direction.
3. A toroid of circular cross section is located with its axis along
z-direction and its center at the origin. The toroid carries a
current of 200 mA. If the number of turns is 1000 with 𝜌𝑚 =
10cm and h = 1 cm, find the magnitude of magnetic field
intensity at:
a. (3, 4, 0) cm
b. (6,-9,0)cm

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 𝜋𝑦
4. The magnetic flux density is given as 4cos 𝑒 −5𝑧 𝑎𝑥 Wb/m².
2
Determine the magnetic flux crossing the plane surface where x = 0,
0<y< 1, and z = 0.

5. Calculate the scalar magnetic potential at (7, 180°, 8) due to

1
magnetic field 𝑎𝜙 . The current free region is defined as 1 ≤ 𝜌 ≤ 6
𝜌
cm, 0 ≤ 𝑧 ≤ 8cm and 0 ≤ 𝜙 ≤ 2𝜋.

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 Solution
1.

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2.

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3.

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4.

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5.

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 Exercise
1. Find magnetic field intensity at P2 (1.5, 2, 3) caused by
current filament of 24A in the az direction on the z-axis and
extending from:

2. A rectangular loop carrying 10A current is placed on z=0 plane

as shown in Fig. below. Evaluate H at:
i) (2, 2, 0) ii) (4, 2,0)

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3. The planes z=0 and z=4 carry current K=-8𝑎𝑥 A/m and K=18
𝑎𝑥 , respectively. Determine H at (1, 1, 1).

4. Find the scalar magnetic potential due to a circular loop of

radius a (as shown in the following figure) at point P (0, 0, z).

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 Solution
1.

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2.

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3.

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4.

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 Homework
1. By using Ampere’s law find the magnetic field
intensity(H) of:
i. Solenoid
ii. Infinite sheet of current
iii. Infinitely Long Coaxial Transmission Line
2. By using Biot savert’s law find H due to finite
length of straight conductor.

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3.

4. The conducting triangular loop in Figure below carries a

current of 10 A. Find H at (0, 0, 5) due to side 1,2 and 3 the loop.

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