ELECTROMAGNETISM

It deals with the relationship between electricity and magnetism. It embraces any principle, application or
devices where there is magnetism and electric current.

DISCOVERY of ELECTROMAGNETISM or THE MAGNETIC EFFECT OF ELECTRIC

CURRENT

Hans Christian Oersted

He found out that the electric motion of electric charges in a conductor or wire sets up a magnetic field
around the wire.
s

I compass

When s is open, I = 0, no When s is closed, I exist, needle has

deflection of compass needle deflection perpendicular to the wire.

DISCOVERY of MAGNETIC LINES OF FORCES

Andre Marie Ampere – discovered the shape of magnetic lines around the current wire.
Ampere described the magnetic field
by magnetic lines of forces arranged in
concentric circles around a conductor
carrying current.
The direction of concentric magnetic
lines is either clockwise or
counterclockwise.

RIGHT-HAND THUMB RULE

It determines the direction of magnetic field due to current.
The rule states that:

“If a conductor is grasped by the right hand with the thumb pointing to the
conventional direction of current in the wire, the curled other fingers indicate the
direction of the magnetic lines or field or flux.”

1
 Using your right-hand:
Point your thumb in the direction of
the conventional current.Curl your
other fingers into a half-circle around
the wire, they point in the direction of
the magnetic field, B

Symbols for direction of Current

Dot means Cross means

current is current is
toward the away from
observer. the observer.

The magnetic field around the The magnetic field around the
conductor is in counterclockwise conductor is in clockwise
direction direction.

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 A

ᵠ
f - magnetic flux ( lines or maxwell in cgs, weber in mks ) A - area in the magnetic field
- imaginary lines representing magnetic field.

Unit of B : N/ A-m or weber/ m2 or TESLA T in mks

lines or maxwell / cm2 or GAUSS in cgs

AMPERE’S LAW or BIOT- SAVART’S LAW

It determines the magnetic induction at a point in the field due to current conductor. It states that
“The magnetic induction at a point in the field of a current wire is directly proportional to the current
I in it, its length L and its orientation but inversely with the square of the distance R from the wire.”

Consider a current wire of element length △L :

kIL sin 
 B   r2

Where: r = distance from wire to point P

ө = angle between the axis of wire of length△L and the line of the distance r
k = permeability constant depending upon the unit used and the medium between △L and P

Note : B is the summation or vector sum of the contribution of all the elements (△L)
kI sin  L
B( )  L
B at point P (total magnetic induction) r2 0

( by integral calculus )


If the line of the distance is perpendicular to the axis of the wire, θ is 90o and sin θ=1 , then
 2
B = kI ʃ dL / r
where: N = no. of turns of wire in the coil
R = radius of the coil 3
IR 2 μ = permeability of the medium
 center
3. B atBthe I of
3 a flat circular •
coil: I •= current I in the coil
B I R R
22(aR  R )
2 2 2