Amperes circuital law for finite length of wire

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the application of Ampere's circuital law to a finite length of wire, contrasting it with the case of an infinite length of wire. Participants explore the implications of Biot-Savart's law and the conditions under which Ampere's law is applicable.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions why Ampere's circuital law yields the same magnetic field for a finite length of wire as for an infinite length, referencing Biot-Savart's law for finite wire.
  • Another participant suggests that the magnetic field is not tangential to the circular loop imagined around the wire, which complicates the integration process.
  • A different participant asserts that the magnetic field is indeed constant around a finite length of wire, challenging the previous claim about the inability to take B out of the integral.
  • One participant explains that Ampere's law is derived under the assumption of a closed circuit and that it does not apply to a finite wire due to the divergence of current density not being zero.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the applicability of Ampere's law to finite wires, with no consensus reached on the validity of the arguments presented regarding the integration of the magnetic field.

Contextual Notes

Participants note that the divergence of current density for a finite wire complicates the application of Ampere's law, highlighting the dependence on the nature of the wire's length and current distribution.

jd12345
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Why is that amperes circuital law gives the same magnetic field around a finite legnth of wrie as if it is an infintie legnth of wire?
By biot-savarts law we know that for a finite length of wire magnetic field is
μ i ( cos θ1 - cos θ2)/ 2∏r

I searched this question in google and one of the answer was that magnetic field will not be tangential to the circular loop we imagine around the wire. So when we integrate magnetic field cannot be calculated

But that's wrong isn't it? By biot-savarts law we see that magnetic field is tangential around the wire along the circular loop with the constatn value as given above. So we can integrate it and find the magnetic field using amperes law
But answer does not come. Why?

Sorry if it ahs been asked again. Give me the link if it has been. Thank you!
 
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OK - here's the link.
https://www.physicsforums.com/showthread.php?t=166197
... also see the link in that thread.

I searched this question in google and one of the answer was
... best to provide the link to the references you use.
But answer does not come. Why?
... have you tried to do the calculation?
 
Yeah in your link - the reason because amperes circuital law doesn't work is as in the integral B.dl B is not constant so we cannot take out B out of the integral and find its value.
This isn't correct! Clearly B is constant around a finite length of wire having its value as
μ i ( cos θ1 - cos θ2)/ 2∏r
 
OK - so do it then.
 
Ampere's law is derived in magnetostatics from curl H =j (omitting constants),
which is derived from the B-S law by requiring div j=0 everywhere. You can see this by taking div of curl H=j. Div j does not equal zero for a finite wire, so Ampere's law does not apply. Ampere's law applies only for a closed circuit. For an infinite wire, the circuit can by closed by a semicircle of radius R which gives no contribution as R-->infinity.
 

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