Question

State and explain the law used to determine the magnetic field at a point due to a current element. Derive the expression for the magnetic field due to a circular current-carrying loop of radius r at its center.

Answer 1

 The magnetic field at a certain point due to an element of a current-carrying conductor is given by Biot Savart's law. According to Biot-Savart’s law, the magnitude of the magnetic field dB due to a current-carrying element of length |dl| at a distance r is proportional to the current I, length of the element |dl|, and inversely proportional to the square of the distance r. Its direction is perpendicular to the plane containing dl and r.

Thus, in vector notation,

` "dB"  alpha  (vec("idl") xx vec("r"))/"r"^3 `

`"dB" = mu_° /(4pi) (vec("idl") xx "r")/"r"^3`

Magnetic field due to a circular current carrying loop:

Let the current in the circular loop of radius R is i, now if take a small element of the loop, dl, making an angle dθ at the center.

The magnetic field at the center by using Biot-Savart law is, `vec"dB" = mu_°/(4pi) (vec"idl" xx vec"R")/("R"^3) = mu_°/(4pi) ("idl")/"R"^2 hat"n"` ...`(vec"dl" ⊥ vec"R", hat"n" ⊥ vec "dl"& vec"R")`

∵ dl = rdθ 

⇒ `|vec"dB"| = mu_° /(4pi) ("Rd"theta)/R^2 = (mu_°"i")/(4pi"R")"d"theta` 

⇒ `|vec"B"| = mu_° /(4pi"R") int_0^(2pi) "d"theta = (mu_°"i")/(2"R")` 

⇒ `|vec"B"| = (mu_°"i")/(2"R")`

⇒ `vec"B" = (mu_°"i")/(2"R") hat"n"` ....(Where `hat"n"` is a vector perpendicular to the plane of loop, directed downward)