Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces

Chapter -27
Content

1. 27.2 Magnetic Field

2. 27.3 Magnetic Field Lines and Magnetic Flux
3. 27.4 Motion of Charged Particles in a Magnetic Field
4. 27.6 Magnetic Force on a Current-Carrying Conductor
5. Conceptual problem: TYU-27.2, 27.4
6. In Class Problems: 27.2, 27.7
7. Assignment Problems: 27.5, 27.15

LEARNING GOAL

 Study magnets & forces they exert on each other

 Calculate force a magnetic field exerts on a moving charge
 Contrast magnetic field lines with electric field lines
 Analyze motion of a charged particle in a magnetic field
 See applications of magnetism in physics and chemistry
 Analyze magnetic forces on current-carrying conductors
 Study the behavior of current loops in a magnetic field

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UPEM Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

Magnetic poles
If a bar magnet, is free to rotate, one end points north. This end is called a
North Pole or N pole; the other end is a South Pole or S pole.
When a magnetized rod is floated on water or suspended by a string from its
center, it tends to line itself up in a north-south direction. The needle of an
ordinary compass is just such a piece of magnetized iron.
Forces between magnetic poles mimic forces between charges. Opposite
poles attract each other, and like poles repel each other. But, either pole of a
permanent magnet will attract a metal like iron.
Breaking a bar magnet does not separate its poles. Each piece has a north
and South Pole, even if the pieces are different sizes (The smaller the piece,
the weaker its magnetism.) but not two isolated poles.
There is no experimental evidence for magnetic monopoles.
In contrast to electric charges, magnetic poles always come in pairs and can't be
isolated.

Magnetic field of the earth

 The earth itself is a magnet.

 Its geographic north pole is close to a magnetic south pole.

Due to this the north pole of a compass needle points north.

 The earth’s magnetic axis is not quite parallel to its

geographic axis (the axis of rotation), so a compass reading
deviates somewhat from geographic north. This deviation,
which varies with location, is called magnetic declination or
magnetic variation.

 Also, the magnetic field is not horizontal at most points on the

earth’s surface; its angle up or down is called magnetic
inclination. At the magnetic poles the magnetic field is
vertical.

Electric current and magnets

In 1820, Hans Oersted discovered that a current-carrying wire causes a compass to

deflect.
This discovery revealed a connection between moving charge and magnetism.

We’ll find a RIGHT-HAND RULE applies to identify the direction of a

magnetic field from a current-carrying wire.

Right Thumb in direction of current

Right Hand Fingers curl in direction of Magnetic field.

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UPEM Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

The magnetic field

Magnetic field can be created by a moving charge or current in the

surrounding space (in addition to its electric field).

The magnetic field so created exerts a force F on any other

moving charge or current that is present in the field.
Magnetic field is a vector quantity. It is denoted with B and
measured in Tesla or Gauss (10-7 Tesla)
Tesla = Newton-second/ Coulomb-meter
Tesla = Newton/Amp-meter
At any position, the direction of B is defined as the direction in
.
which the north pole of a compass needle tends to point.

The arrows in figure give the direction of the earth’s magnetic field. For any magnet, B points out of its
north pole and into its south pole.

The magnetic force on a moving charge

The magnitude of the magnetic force (F) experienced on a moving charge

‘q’ is given by
F = |q| v B sin ……..(1)
Where, v = velocity of the moving charge
B = strength of the magnetic field
 = angle from ‘v’ to ‘B’
Here, F is perpendicular to both ‘v’ and ‘B’.
In vector form, we can write as
 
F  q v x B ........(2)

The direction of the force not only depends of the direction of B , but also depends on the particle’s
velocity and the sign of its charge. So, just looking at magnetic field lines one cannot tell the direction of
the force on an arbitrary moving charged particle.
The right-hand rule gives the direction of the force(F) on a positive charge.
The left-hand rule gives the direction of the force(F) on a negative charge.
Two charges of equal magnitude but opposite signs moving in the same direction in the same field will
experience magnetic forces in opposite directions.

Measuring Magnetic Fields with Test Charges

Case: I: v = 0
If, charge particle is stationary inside the magnetic field, then v = 0,
So, F = 0, Thus, the stationary charge placed inside the magnetic field experience no force.

Case: II:  = 0 or 1800

If, charge particle is moving parallel or anti-parallel to the direction of the magnetic field, then
 = 0, or 
So, F = 0, Thus, the charge moving along the magnetic field direction experiences no force, so the
charge particle will not deflect.

Case: III:  = 900

If, magnetic field is perpendicular to direction of velocity, then magnetic force will be maximum.
Fmax = |q| v B
The charge particle is deflected in a direction perpendicular to the plane which contains both v and B .

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UPEM Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

In the other way we can say that, the direction and magnitude of the deflection determine the direction
and magnitude of B .

Case: IV: Charge particle influenced by both electric and magnetic fields

When a charged particle moves through a region of space where both electric and magnetic fields are
present, both fields exert forces on the particle. The total force (F) is the vector sum of the electric and
magnetic forces:
FqE q vxB  
Magnetic field lines
Characteristics of magnetic lines are:
 At each point, the field line is tangent to the magnetic field vector B .
 The more densely the field lines are packed, the stronger the field is at
that point
 At each point, the field lines point in the same direction a compass
needle would point.
 Magnetic field lines point away from N poles and toward S poles.
 Iron filings, like compass needles, tend to align with magnetic field lines.
 Hence they provide an easy way to visualize field lines
 Space where adjacent field lines are close together, it represents large magnetic field. But here
these field lines are far apart, the magnetic field magnitude is small.
 As the direction of B at each point is unique, field lines never intersect.

Following figures show magnetic field lines produced by several common sources of magnetic field.

Magnetic field of a C-shaped

magnetic field lines due magnet.
to bar magnet Between parallel magnetic
poles, the magnetic field is
nearly uniform.

Magnetic fields of a
Magnetic fields of a current-carrying coil
current-carrying loop. (solenoid).

The field of the loop The field of the coil

look like the field of a look like the field of a
bar magnet. bar magnet.

Magnetic field of a straight current-carrying wire

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UPEM Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

Magnetic flux and Gauss’s Law for Magnetism

Let us consider a surface elements of area dA.

The component of B normal to the surface elements dA is B  B cos 

Where  is the angle between the direction of B and a line perpendicular to

the surface dA.
Now, the magnetic flux through this area is
dB  B dA  B cos  dA
The total magnetic flux through the surface is the sum of the contributions from the individual area
elements. Thus,

B   B cos  dA   B . dA

Magnetic flux through a closed surface is always zero, because no magnetic monopole has ever been
observed. Again, every field line that enters the surface also exits from it; the net flux through the surface
is zero.

B   B . dA  0
We can also say that, magnetic field lines always form closed loops.
Magnetic field lines have no ends Magnetic field lines that begin at the north pole of a magnet and end
at a south pole. of a magnet, actually continue through the interior of the magnet and form closed loops.
This equation is called Gauss’s law for magnetism

If B is uniform over a plane surface with total area A, then B   B cos  dA  B A cos 

If B is perpendicular to the surface, then B  B A

From the above equation we can get B 

B
A
Thus, the magnitude of magnetic field is equal to flux per unit area across an area at right angles to the
magnetic field. For this reason, magnetic field is sometimes called magnetic flux density.
Magnetic flux is a scalar quantity. The SI unit of magnetic flux is Weber (Wb)
1 Wb = (1 T) (1 m2) = 1 N.m/A

Motion of charged particles in a magnetic field

Let us consider a particle with positive charge ‘q’. It is moving with velocity ‘v’
in a uniform magnetic field B directed into the plane of the paper. ‘ v ’ and B
are perpendicular to each other.
The magnetic force F experienced by the moving charge particle is

Fq vxB   F  q v B sin   FqvB    900 

The force (F) is always perpendicular to ‘v’. So it cannot change the

magnitude of the velocity, only its direction is changed. The particle move in
a circular path.
The magnetic force can never do work on the particle. This is true even if the magnetic field is not
uniform. Thus, a charged particle in a magnetic field always moves with constant speed.
Magnetic force provides the necessary centripetal force.

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mv 2 mv 2 mv
qvB  R  R
R qvB qB
where is the of the. radius of a circular orbit
Above expression represents, the radius of the circular path in which the particle of mass ‘m’ moving in
a magnetic field.
If ω be the angular speed of the particle, then
v v qB
  
R mv m
qB

If f be the angular speed of the particle, then

qB
 m  qB
f  
2 2 2m
This frequency, dependent on q, B and m of the particle. But the frequency is independent of the radius
(R) of the path.
This frequency is called the cyclotron frequency. (Cyclotron is a particle accelerator that produce
particle of high energy).
If the initial velocity is not perpendicular to the field, then the component of
the velocity parallel to the field is constant (because there is no force parallel
to the field). In this situation the particle moves in a helix path The radius of
the helix. is given by
mv
R
qB
Here, v = component of velocity perpendicular to the magnetic field.
The speed and kinetic energy of the particle remain constant.

Magnetic bottle:
Magnetic bottle is device which Charges can be trapped. This can be
developed by the motion of a charged particle in a non-uniform
magnetic field produced by two circular coils separated by some
distance.
Particles near either coil experience a magnetic force toward the center
of the region.
Particles possess a spiral motion and moves with a appropriate speed
from one coil to the other and back. This motion is repeated. So the
charge particles are trapped in such a magnetic field. This is called a
magnetic bottle.
This technique is used to confine very hot plasmas with temperatures of
the order of 106K. This
The earth’s non-uniform magnetic field also traps charged particles
coming from the sun in Doughnut-shaped regions around the earth.
These regions are called the Van Allen radiation belts.Near the poles,
charged particles from these belts can enter the atmosphere, producing
the aurora borealis (“northern lights”) and aurora australis (“southern
lights”).

The magnetic force on a current-carrying conductor

Let us consider a current-carrying conductor placed inside an uniform magnetic field B. The current is
flowing from bottom to top. The magnetic field is perpendicular to the plane of the paper and directed
into the plane.

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UPEM Magnetic Field and Magnetic Forces Chapter-27

The average force on each charge moving in the conducting wire is


F  q vd x B 
F is directed to the left as shown in the figure.
Since v d and B are perpendicular to each other, the magnitude of the force is


F  q vd x B   F  q vd B sin     900 
 F  q vd B
Now the force on the conducting wire can be calculated as follows:
Let n = electron density
l = length of the conducting wire
A = area of cross-sectional
So, the total number of electrons in the wire is N = n lA
Total charge = q n l A
Total Force is
F  q n A vd B
 F   q vd A n   B 
 F   I   B  I  q vd A n 
 FI B
If the field B is not perpendicular to the wire but makes an angle  with it, then the component B sin  is
perpendicular to the wire.
Now, B sin  exerts magnetic force on the wire segment and is given by
F  I B sin 
FI  xB 
The force F is always perpendicular to both the conductor and the field B .The direction of F is
determined by the right-hand rule for a moving charge.
Application of the magnetic forces on a current-carrying wire is found in loudspeakers, in electric motor,
in moving-coil galvanometer and many more.
Conceptual problem: TYU-27.2, 27.3, 27.4, 27.6
Test Your Understanding of Section 27.2

The figure at right shows a uniform magnetic field B directed into the plane of
the paper (shown by the X’s). A particle with a negative charge moves in the
plane. Which of the three paths—1, 2, or 3—does the particle follow?
Answer: path 3
v points to the right
B points into the plane of the figure
Applying the right-hand rule F  q v x B   on a positive charge would point upward.
Since the charge is negative, the force points downward and the particle follows a trajectory that curves
downward i.e path 3.

Test Your Understanding of Section 27.3

Imagine moving along the axis of the current-carrying loop shown in the figure, starting at a point well to
the left of the loop and ending at a point well to the right of the loop.
(a) How would the magnetic field strength vary as you moved along this path?
(i) It would be the same at all points along the path;
(ii) it would increase and then decrease;
(iii) it would decrease and then increase.

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(b) Would the magnetic field direction vary as you moved along the path?

Answers: (a) (ii), (b) no

The magnitude of B would increase as you moved to the right, reaching a maximum as you pass through
the plane of the loop.

As we moved beyond the plane of the loop, the field magnitude would decrease. We can tell this from
the spacing of the field lines: The closer the field lines, the stronger the field.

The direction of the field would be to the right at all points along the path, since the path is along a field
line and the direction of B at any point is tangent to the field line through that point.

Test Your Understanding of Section 27.4

(a) If you double the speed of the charged particle in Figure while keeping the magnetic field the same
(as well as the charge and the mass), how does this affect the radius of the trajectory?
(i) The radius is unchanged;
(ii) the radius is twice as large;
(iii) the radius is four times as large;
(iv) the radius is half as large;
(v) the radius is one-fourth as large.

(b) How does this affect the time required for one complete circular orbit?
(i) The time is unchanged;
(ii) the time is twice as long;
(iii) the time is four times as long;
(iv) the time is half as long;
(v) the time is one-fourth as long.

Answers: (a) (ii), (b) (i)

The radius of the orbit is directly proportional to the speed,
So doubling the particle speed causes the radius to double as well.
The particle has twice as far to travel to complete one orbit but is traveling at double the speed, so the
time for one orbit is unchanged. From the equation   q B it is clear the angular speed ω is
m
independent of the linear speed v. Hence the time per orbit T  2 does not depend on v.

Test Your Understanding of Section 27.6
The figure shows a top view of two conducting rails on which a conducting bar can slide. A uniform
magnetic field is directed perpendicular to the plane of the figure as shown. A battery is to be connected
to the two rails so that when the switch is closed, current will flow through the bar and cause a magnetic
force to push the bar to the right. In which orientation, A or B, should the battery be placed in the circuit?

Answer: A
This orientation will cause current to flow clockwise around the circuit and hence through the conducting
bar in the direction from the top to the bottom of the figure. From the right-hand rule, the magnetic force
FI  xB  on the bar will then point to the right.

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In Class Problems: Example: 27.2, 27.7

Example 27.2 Magnetic flux calculations

Below figure is a perspective view of a flat surface with area 3cm 2 in a uniform magnetic field B . The
magnetic flux through this surface is +0.90 mWb. Find the magnitude of the magnetic field and the
direction of the area vector A .

Solution: A = 3 cm2, B = + 0.90 m.Wb, θ = 600

B  A B cos 
B 0.9 x 103 Wb
B   6T
A cos   3 x 104 m 2  cos 600

Example 27.7 Magnetic force on a straight conductor

A straight horizontal copper rod carries a current of 50A from west to east in a region between the poles
of a large electromagnet. In this region there is a horizontal magnetic field toward the northeast (that is,
45° north of east) with magnitude 1.20 T.
(a) Find the magnitude and direction of the force on a 1.00-m section of rod.
(b) While keeping the rod horizontal, how should it be oriented to maximize the magnitude of the
force? What is the force magnitude in this case?

Solution: i = 50 A, B = 1.2 T
 1.00 m  ˆi
B  1.20 T   cos 45  ˆi   sin 450  ˆj
FI  xB 
 F  I 1.00 m  ˆi x 1.20 T   cos 45  iˆ   sin 450  ˆj

 
 F  I 1.00 m 1.20 T   cos 45  ˆi x iˆ   sin 450  iˆ x ˆj 
  
 1 ˆ
 F   50A  1.00 m 1.20 T  0  k
 2 
 F   42.4 N  kˆ

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Assignment Problems: 27.5, 27.15

27.5: An electron experiences a magnetic force of magnitude 4.60 x 10-15 N when moving at an angle
of 600 with respect to a magnetic field of magnitude 3.50 x 10-3 T. Find the speed of the
electron.

Ans: Magnitude of the charge of electron = 1.6 x 10−19 C.

F = q v B sin θ
F 4.6 x 10-15 N
v  = 9.49 x 106 m/s
q B sin θ  -19
 -3
1.6 x 10 C 3.5 x 10 T sin 600
 
27.15: An electron at point in figure has a speed of v0 = 1.41 x 106 m/s. Find
a) the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field that will cause
the electron to follow the semicircular path from A to B and
b) the time required for the electron to move from A to B.

Ans: a) The necessary centripetal force is provided by the magnetic

force experienced by the electron.
Thus,
mv2
FB =
R
mv2
q v B sin θ 
R
mv2 m v (9.1 x 10-31kg)(1.41 x106 m/s)
q v B  B  -31
 1.6 x 10-4 T
R qR (1.6 x 10 C)(0.05 m)
 B  1.6 x 10-4 T
b) The time is given by
length of the semicircular path
t
speed
πR π  0.05 m 
t=   1.11 x 107s
v0  6
1.41 x 10 m/s 

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