UNIT-III : MAGNETIC EFFECTS OF CURRENT AND MAGNETISM

TOPIC-1 M agnetic Field and Biot-Savart law

Concepts Covered:
 Magnetic field  Oersted's experiment  Biot-Savart law and its application to current carrying circular loop.
Oersted’s experiment
Revision Notes
Oersted observed that:
Concept of Magnetic field  When there is no current, compass needle below a wire

 Magnetic field is a region around a magnet where force

shows no deflection.
 When the flow of current is in single direction, then the
of magnetism acts which affects other magnets and
compass needle deflects in a particular direction.
magnetic materials.
 When the flow of current is reversed,
 Magnetic field also known as B-field can be pictorially Scan this
deflection in compass needle occurs
represented by magnetic field lines.
in the opposite direction.
 Magnetic fields are produced by electric currents,
 From the experiment, it is concluded
which can be macroscopic currents in wires, or that an electric current produces a
microscopic currents associated with electrons in magnetic field which surrounds the Biot-Savart Law
atomic orbits. wire.
 Lorentz Force: When a charge q moving with velocity v  The magnetic field due to a current element at a nearby
enters a region where both magnetic fields and electric point is given by:
field exist, both fields exert a force on it.  → →
→
 µ  dl× r
→ → → → dB =  0  I 3
Lorentz Force, F = q[ E + v × B ]  4π  r
→ →
where, F = magnetic force, q = charge, v =
→
velocity of the charged particle, B = magnetic field,
→ →
E = electric field, q E = electric force on the charge,
→ →
q( v × B ) = magnetic force on the charge
 SI unit of magnetic field is tesla.
1 tesla = 104 gauss
→ →
 When a test charge q0 enters a magnetic field B Where, dB = Magnetic field produced by current
→ element
directed along negative z-axis with a velocity v
→
making an angle q with the z-axis, then, dl = Vector length of small section of wire in the
→ → → ∧ direction of current
Fm = q0 ( v × B ) = q0vB sin q n

 Applications of Biot-Savart Law
→
r = Positional vector from section of wire to the Magnetic field at a point due to a current carrying
point where magnetic field is measured circular loop:
I = Current in the wire → µ0 IR 2
→ B= ˆr [Here, r2 = R2 + x2]
( )
→ 3/2
2 2
q = Angle between dl and r 2 R +x
–7

m0 = Permeability of free space and m0 = 4p × 10 Magnetic field at the centre of a coil of N turns
Wb/Am → µ NI
The magnitude of magnetic field, B = 0 ˆr [x = 0]
→
2R
 µ  Idl sin θ
| dB | =  0 
 4π  r2
which is known as Biot- Savart law.
[Board 2017, 16, 15]

Example-1
An element Δl = Δx i is placed at the origin and
carries a large current I = 10 A as shown in the figure
below. What is the magnetic field on the y-axis at a
distance of 0.5m. Δx = 1cm. Magnetic field at very large distance from the
2µ NIA
y centre: B = 0 3 [Here, R2 << r2 or, R2 + x2 ≈ x2]
4 πx
where, A = Area of circular loop
p
= pR2
Magnetic field due to current carrying circular arc
with centre O is:
0.5 m
µ πI µ I
(i) B = 0 . = 0
4π r 4r
x
∆x

Solution:
According to Biot-Savart law
m 0 Idl sin θ
|dB| =
4p r 2
m (ii) B = µ0 . θI
Tm 4π r
dl= Δx = 10 m, I = 10A, r = 0.5m = y, 0 = 10–7
–2
4p A
θ = 90°; sin θ = 1
10 −7 × 10 × 10 −2
|dB| = = 4 ×10–8 T
25 × 10 −2
The direction of the field is in the + z-direction. This
is so since,
→      
dl × r =∆xi × y j = y∆x(i × j ) = y∆x k .
µ 0 . ( 2 π − θ )I
(iii) B =
4π r

KEY TERMS
Permeability: It is also called magnetic permeability, is a
constant of proportionality that exists between magnetic
induction and magnetic field intensity.
Magnetic field lines: Magnetic field lines, also known as

magnetic flux lines, are imaginary lines those represent
the direction and strength of a magnet's force.
 Magnetic field at common centre of non-coplanar
and concentric coils, where both coils are = 1.9 × 10–4 T
Thus B is 1.9 × 10–4 T normal to the plane of the
perpendicular to each other will be:
paper going into it.
µ0 2 2 (c) Same magnitude of B but opposite in direction
B = B12 + B22 = I1 + I 2 to that in (a).
2r

Example-3
r Consider a tightly wound 100 turn coil of radius 10cm,
carrying a current of 1A. What is the magnitude of
the magnetic field at the centre of the coil?
r Solution:
Since the coil is tightly wound, then radius R = 10
cm = 0.1m.
The number of turns N = 100.
The magnitude of the magnetic field is,
m 0 NI 4 π × 10 −7 × 10 2 × 1
Example-2

B=
2R
=
2 × 10 −1
A straight wire carrying a current of 12A is bent into = 2π × 10–4 = 6.28 × 10–4T
a semi-circular arc of radius 2.0cm as shown in the
figure(a). Consider the magnetic field B at the centre
of the arc.
(a) What is the magnetic field due to the straight
segments?
(b) In what way the contribution to B from the
semicircle differs from that of a circular loop and
in what way does it resemble?
(c) Would your answer be different if the wire were
bent into a semi-circular arc of the same radius
but in the opposite way as shown in figure(b)?

fig. a
fig. b

Solution:
→ →
(a) dl and r for each element of the straight
→ →
segments are parallel. Therefore, dl × r = 0.
Straight segments do not contribute to |B|.
(b) For all segments of the semicircular arc, dl × r
are all parallel to each other (into the plane
of the paper). So, they add up in magnitude.
Hence, direction of B for a semicircular arc is
given by the right-hand rule and the magnitude
is half that of a circular loop.
µ I
B= 0
4r
4 π × 10 −7 × 12
=
4 × 2 × 10 −2
TOPIC-2 A mpere's Circuital Law and its Applications
Concepts Covered
 Ampere's law and it applications to infinitely long straight wire  Straight solenoid.

This question is for practice and its solution is available at the end of the chapter
Revision Notes Applications of Ampere’s law to infinitely long
straight wire, straight solenoids
 Ampere’s circuital law states that the line integral of (i) Magnetic Field due to long straight wire
magnetic field around a closed path is µ0 times of total Ampere's law describes the magnitude of
current enclosed by the path, ∫ B.dI = µ0 I magnetic field of a straight wire as:
µ I
[SQP 2023-24] B= 0
2 πr
where,
where,
B = Magnetic field
dl = Infinitesimal segment of the path  Field B is tangential to a circle of radius r
μ0 = Magnetic permeability of free space centred on the wire.
I = Enclosed electric current by the path  Magnetic field B and path length remain
parallel every where.

I B

Magnetic
I field lines
 Magnetic field at a point does not depend on the shape
of Amperian loop and remains same at every point on
the loop.
 Force on a current carrying conductor: (ii) Magnetic Field due to Solenoid
For a steady current I in the conducting wire, in the Solenoid:
presence of an external magnetic field B, the force on Solenoid is a tightly wound helical coil of
the charge carriers is:
insulated wire whose diameter is small
F =(nlA)qvd × B compared to its length.
where q is the value of the charge on a carrier, n is the
Magnetic field generated at the centre, or core
number density of charge carriers, l is the length of the
conductor, A is the area of cross section of the conductor of a current carrying solenoid is uniform and is
and vd is the drift velocity of the charge carriers. directed along the axis of solenoid.
Now, nqvd is the current density J and |(nqvd )| A is the Magnetic field due to a straight solenoid:
current I. Thus,  at any point in the solenoid, B = m0nI
F = [(nqvd )lA] × B = [JAl] × B µ nI
 at the ends of solenoid, Bend = 0
= Il × B 2
Forces between two parallel currents where, n = number of turns per unit length,
 Two parallel wires separated by distance r having I = current in the coil.
currents I1 and I2 where magnetic field strength at
second wire due to current flowing in first wire is given
as:
Example-4
µ I A solenoid of length 0.5m has a radius of 1cm and
B= 0 1 is made up of 500 turns. It carries a current of 5A.
2 πr
What is the magnitude of the magnetic field inside
In this, the field is orientated at right-angle to second the solenoid?
wire where force per unit length on the second wire is: Solution:
F µ 0 I1I 2 The number of turns per unit length is,
=
l 2 πr 500
n = = 1000 turns/m
Magnetic field-strength at first wire due to the current 0.5
flowing in second wire is: Here, the length l = 0.5m and radius r = 0.01m.
µ I l
B= 0 2
2 πr Thus, = 50 i.e., l >> a.
a
 One ampere is the magnitude of current which, when
Hence, B = μ0nI
flowing in each parallel wire one metre apart, results
in a force between the wires as 2 × 10–7 N per metre of = 4π ×10–7 ×103 × 5
length. [SQP 2023] = 6.28 ×10–3 T.
 Motion of a Charged particle in a Uniform Magnetic
Field: Therefore, F = q(E – vB) j
Thus, electric and magnetic forces are in opposite
 Centripetal Force in a Magnetic Field:
directions as shown in the figure. If the value of E and
For a charged particle moving in a magnetic field in a B is adjusted such that magnitudes of the two forces
circular path, the centripetal force is provided by the are equal, then, total force on the charge is zero and
magnetic force. the charge will move in the fields undeflected. This
happens when,
mv 2 qE = qvB
Fc =
r E
or, v =  (Velocity Selector)
 Centripetal Force and Magnetic Force Equality: B
Equating the centripetal force to the magnetic force, we KEY FORMULAE
get:
→ →

qvB =
mv 2 Ampere's circuital law: ∫ B . dl = µ 0 I
r
Magnetic field due to a long straight wire:
 Angular Frequency: µ I
B = 0
The frequency of revolution of the charged particle in a 2 πR
magnetic field is called the cyclotron frequency (ωc).
Magnetic field inside a solenoid:
qB B = m0nI
ωc =
m Magnetic field at the ends of solenoid:
 Radiusof the Circular Path: m 0nI
Bend =
The radius of the circular path is given by: 2
mv
r = Force between two parallel wires,
qB µ 2I I
F = 0 × 1 2 ×l
 Angular Frequency and Period of Revolution: 4π a
The angular frequency (ω) and the period of revolution Force between two moving charged particle,
(T) are related to the angular frequency: µ qq vv
ω = ωc Fm = 0 × 1 2 2 1 2
4π r
2π The frequency of revolution of the charged
T =
ωc particle in a magnetic field
qB
 Helical Motion in a Uniform Magnetic Field: ωc =
If a charged particle has an initial velocity component m
parallel to the magnetic field, it undergoes helical Radius of the Circular Path
motion in addition to circular motion. mv
 Motion of a Charged particle in combined Electric
r=
qB
and Magnetic Fields:
The period of revolution (T)
When a charge q moving with velocity v in presence
of both electric and magnetic fields experiences a force 2p
T=
given by ωc

→ → → → → →
F = q(E+ v× B)= F E + F B
KEY FACTS
[Board 2023] → → → →
But when electric and magnetic fields are perpendicular Lorentz force, F = q( E + v × B )
to each other and also perpendicular to the velocity of In uniform magnetic field B, frequency of
the particle, then, circular motion of charged particle,
→
F E = qE j qB
f =
→
2 πm
F BE = q ( vi× Bk) = – vqB j q 2 r 2 B2
and KEm =
y 2m
→ →
→ µ I ( dl × r )
FE E Biot-Savart law, d B = 0 .
4π r3

v
x Magnetic field at a point due to circular loop,
B → µ R2
B = 0 .I 2 ˆr
z
FB 2 ( R + x 2 )3 / 2
 TOPIC-3 T orque and Galvanometer
Concepts Covered
 Torque experienced by a current loop in uniform magnetic field  Moving coil galvanometer, its current and voltage sensitivity
 Conversion to ammeter and voltmeter.

Revision Notes exists such that initially the axis of the coil is
in the direction of the field. The coil rotates
 Galvanometer: A galvanometer is an electrome- through an angle of 90° under the influence of
chanical measuring instrument for electric current. the magnetic field.
(c) What are the magnitudes of the torques on the
If a rectangular loop of length l, breadth b with current
coil in the initial and final position?
I flowing through it is in a uniform magnetic field of ( d) What is the angular speed acquired by the coil
induction, B where angle q is between the normal when it has rotated by 90° ? The moment of
and in direction of magnetic field, then the torque inertia of the coil is 0.1 kgm2?
experienced is: Solution:
t = nBIA sin q (a) The magnetic field at the centre of the coil is
where, n = number of turns in the coil given by,
\
nIA = M µ NI
B= 0
2R
Further, t = MB sin q [Board 2019, 17]
Here, N = 100; I = 3.2A, and R = 0.1m.
4 π × 10 −7 × 10 2 × 3.2
Hence, B=
2 × 10 −1

4 × 10 −5 × 10
=

 2 × 10 −1
(using π × 3.2 = 10)
= 2 ×10–3T
The direction is given by the right-hand thumb
rule.
(b) The magnetic moment is given by,
M = NIA = NIπr2 = 100 × 3.2
 × 3.14 × 10–2 = 10 Am2
 Torque is maximum when the coil is parallel to The direction is once again given by the right-
magnetic field and is zero when coil is perpendicular hand thumb rule.
to magnetic field. (c) Torque on the coil is given by,
→
τ =|M × B|= MB sinθ
 In vector notation, torque τ experienced will be Initial position, θ = 0°. So, initial torque τi = 0.
π
→ → → Final position, θ = (or 90°).
τ= M × B 2
So, final torque τf = MB = 10 × 2 = 20Nm.
Example-5 (d) From Newton's second law,
A 100 turn closely wound circular coil of radius 10cm dω
I = MB sinθ
carries a current of 3.2A. dt
(a) What is the field at the centre of the coil? where I is the moment of inertia of the coil.
(b) What is the magnetic moment of this coil? From chain rule,
The coil is placed in a vertical plane and is dω dω dθ dω
free to rotate about a horizontal axis which = = ω
dt d θ dt dθ
coincides with its diameter. A uniform
magnetic field of 2T in the horizontal direction
 Moving coil galvanometer
Using this,
Iωdω = MB sinθ dθ  It is an instrument used for detection and
measurement of small electric currents.
π
Integrating from θ = 0° to θ = ,  In this, when a current carrying coil is suspended
2 in uniform magnetic field, it experiences a torque
ωf π/2 which rotates the coil.
I∫ ωdω = mB ∫ sin θ dθ
0 0  The force experienced by each side of the galvanometer
is F = BIl which are opposite in direction.

ω2f π/2
I = –MB cosθ|0 = mB
2
1/ 2
 2 MB 
ωf =  
 I 
1/ 2
 2 × 20 
=  −1  = 20 rad s–1
 10 

Example-6
(a) A current-carrying circular loop lies on a
smooth horizontal plane. Can a uniform
magnetic field be set up in such a manner that
the loop turns around itself (i.e., turns about
the vertical axis).
(b) A current-carrying circular loop is located in
a uniform external magnetic field. If the loop
is free to turn, what is its orientation of stable
equilibrium? Show that in this orientation, the
flux of the total field (external field + field Opposite and equal forces form the couple which
produced by the loop) is maximum. generates deflecting torque on the coil having
(c) A loop of irregular shape carrying current number of turns n is given as:
is located in an external magnetic field. If t =F×b
the wire is flexible, why does it change to a = nBIl × b
= nBIA
circular shape?
Solution:
(a) In the scenario of a horizontal circular loop
carrying current, the torque
(τ = IAB sin θ) acting on the loop is indeed in
the plane of the loop. Therefore, the loop would
not rotate about its vertical axis, as the torque is
unable to produce rotation in that direction.
(b) In the orientation of stable equilibrium, the area
 In moving coil galvanometer, current in the coil is
vector A of the loop should indeed be aligned in
directly proportional to the angle of the deflection
the direction of the external magnetic field. In of the coil, I ∝ q
this configuration, the magnetic field produced i.e., where, q is the angle of deflection.
by the loop and the external magnetic field are Current sensitivity of galvanometer
both normal to the plane of the loop and in the  Current sensitivity: The deflection produced per
same direction. As a result, the torque acting on unit current.
θ nBA
the loop is maximum, and the loop is in a stable Current Sensitivity, =
equilibrium position. I C
(c) It assumes circular shape with its plane normal  Voltage sensitivity: The deflection per unit voltage.
θ θ nBA
to the field to maximize flux, since for a given Voltage Sensitivity, = =
perimeter, a circle encloses greater area than V IG CG
any other shape. where, G = galvanometer resistance, C = torsional
constant.
 Increase in sensitivity of moving coil galvanometer
depends on:
 (i) number of turns n described in (a) but converted to an ammeter
(ii) magnetic field B by a shunt resistance rs = 0.02 Ω; (c) is an ideal
(iii) area of coil A and ammeter with zero resistance?
(iv) torsional constant. A
Conversion of galvanometer into ammeter
 Galvanometer can be converted into ammeter by
connecting a low resistance known as shunt in 3.00W
parallel with the galvanometer coil.
RG I G
S= I −I [Board 2023]
( G)  3.00 V
Solution:
(a) Total resistance in the circuit is, RG + 3 = 63 Ω.
3
Hence, I= = 0.048A.
63
(b) Resistance of the galvanometer converted to an
ammeter is,
RG rs 60Ω × 0.02Ω
= =0.02 Ω
Conversion of galvanometer into voltmeter RG + rs (60 + 0.02 )Ω

 Galvanometer can be converted to voltmeter Total resistance in the circuit is, 0.02 Ω + 3 Ω
by connecting high resistance in series with = 3.02 Ω.
galvanometer coil. 3
R = (V/IG) – G Hence, I= = 0.99 A.
3.02
IG = current for full scale deflection of galvanometer.
(c) For the ideal ammeter with zero resistance,
3
I= = 1.00 A
3

KEY FORMULAE
tmax = NBIA
θ nAB
Current Sensitivity = =
I C
θ nAB
Example-7 Voltage Sensitivity = =
V CG
In the circuit given below, the current is to be
measured. What is the value of the current if
the ammeter shown (a) is a galvanometer with
a resistance RG = 60.00 Ω; (b) is a galvanometer