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NCERT Exemplar · Q2

Q.Biot-Savart law indicates that the moving electrons (velocity v⃗\vec{v}) produce a magnetic field B⃗\vec{B} such that

(a) B⃗⊥v⃗\vec{B} \perp \vec{v}.
(b) B⃗∥v⃗\vec{B} \parallel \vec{v}.
(c) it obeys inverse cube law.
(d) it is along the line joining the electron and point of observation.
Uttarakhand UbseMCQ· 1mImportance★★★★★
49% · 27/55 Questions
✓ Free question

The Biot-Savart field of a moving charge is B⃗∝q(v⃗×r^)\vec{B}\propto q(\vec{v}\times\hat{r}), so B⃗\vec{B} is always perpendicular to the velocity v⃗\vec{v} -- option (a), B⃗⊥v⃗\vec{B}\perp\vec{v}.

What the question asks

It asks about the magnetic field a moving electron creates (the Biot-Savart law), not the force a field exerts on a current.

The Biot-Savart field of a moving charge

For a charge qq moving with velocity v⃗\vec{v}, the field at a point with position vector r⃗\vec{r} (unit vector r^\hat{r}) from the charge is

B⃗=μ04π q (v⃗×r^)r2.\vec{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\,\frac{q\,(\vec{v}\times\hat{r})}{r^2}.

1. Direction. A cross product v⃗×r^\vec{v}\times\hat{r} is perpendicular to both vectors that build it. Hence B⃗\vec{B} is perpendicular to v⃗\vec{v} and to r⃗\vec{r}. So B⃗⊥v⃗\vec{B}\perp\vec{v}.

2. Magnitude. B=μ04πq vsin⁡θr2B = \dfrac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\dfrac{q\,v\sin\theta}{r^2}, where θ\theta is the angle between v⃗\vec{v} and r⃗\vec{r}. This is an inverse-square law in rr, not inverse-cube.

3. Rejecting the other choices. B⃗\vec{B} is not parallel to v⃗\vec{v} (a cross product is never parallel to its factors), and it does not lie along the line joining the charge to the point (that line is r^\hat{r}, to which B⃗\vec{B} is also perpendicular).

✓Final answer

B⃗⊥v⃗\vec{B}\perp\vec{v} -- the field is perpendicular to the electron's velocity (option a).

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