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Q.Write the Biot-Savart law in scalar form. Use this law to find the magnitude of the magnetic field due to a circular coil carrying current (II) at a point along its axis. How does a circular loop carrying current (II) behave as a magnet? (1+3+1=5) OR State Ampere's circuital law. Use the law to find the magnitude of the magnetic field inside a long, straight, air-cored solenoid. Also write the expressions for the magnitude of the magnetic field

(a) at points near the ends of the solenoid and
(b) inside the solenoid when it is iron-cored. (1+3+1=5)
Meghalaya MboseMBOSE Meghalaya Intermediate Board 2021Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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Integrating the Biot-Savart law around a circular current loop gives the axial field B=μ0IR2/[2(R2+x2)3/2]B=\mu_0IR^2/[2(R^2+x^2)^{3/2}], and the loop itself behaves as a magnetic dipole with moment IAIA.

Biot-Savart law (scalar form)

dB=μ04πI dlsin⁡θr2dB = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{I\,dl\sin\theta}{r^2}

where I dlI\,dl is a current element, rr is the distance from the element to the field point, and θ\theta is the angle between the current element's direction and the line joining it to the field point. dB⃗d\vec B is directed perpendicular to the plane containing dl⃗d\vec l and r⃗\vec r (right-hand rule).

Magnetic field on the axis of a circular coil

Consider a circular loop of radius RR carrying current II; let PP be a point on its axis at distance xx from the centre. Every current element is perpendicular to the line joining it to PP (θ=90∘\theta=90^\circ), and each element is at the same distance R2+x2\sqrt{R^2+x^2} from PP:

dB=μ04πI dlR2+x2dB = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{I\,dl}{R^2+x^2}

By symmetry, the components of dB⃗d\vec B perpendicular to the axis cancel in pairs (from diametrically opposite elements); only the components along the axis add. Each element's axial component is dBcos⁡ϕdB\cos\phi where cos⁡ϕ=R/R2+x2\cos\phi = R/\sqrt{R^2+x^2}:

dBaxis=μ0I dl4π(R2+x2)⋅RR2+x2=μ0IR dl4π(R2+x2)3/2dB_{axis} = \frac{\mu_0 I\,dl}{4\pi(R^2+x^2)}\cdot\frac{R}{\sqrt{R^2+x^2}} = \frac{\mu_0IR\,dl}{4\pi(R^2+x^2)^{3/2}}

Integrating around the full loop (∮dl=2πR\oint dl = 2\pi R):

B=μ0IR4π(R2+x2)3/2×2πR=μ0IR22(R2+x2)3/2B = \frac{\mu_0IR}{4\pi(R^2+x^2)^{3/2}}\times2\pi R = \frac{\mu_0IR^2}{2(R^2+x^2)^{3/2}}

(At the centre, x=0x=0: B=μ0I/2RB = \mu_0I/2R.)

A current loop as a magnet

A current-carrying circular loop sets up a magnetic field pattern very similar to that of a bar magnet: one face acts like a north pole (field lines emerge, by the right-hand rule) and the other like a south pole (field lines converge). It possesses a magnetic dipole moment m=IAm=IA (AA = loop area) directed along the axis — so the loop behaves as a magnetic dipole, just like a small bar magnet.

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