Magnetic field from a square loop

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Potatochip911
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Homework Statement


A wire is formed into the shape of a square of edge length L. Show that when the current in
the loop is I, the magnetic field at point P a distance x from the center of the square along its axis is $$B=\frac{\mu_0 IL^2}{2\pi(x^2+L^2/4)\sqrt{x^2+L^2/2}}$$
Diagram of a square wire loop with side length L, carrying current I shown by an arrow on its right edge, with a dashed line from the centre along the axis x to a point P outside the loop.


Homework Equations


##d\vec{B}=\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{I\vec{ds}\times\hat{r}}{r^2}##

The Attempt at a Solution


Diagram of a square loop of edge length L with a point P on its axis at distance x, showing distance r, the angle theta and phi, z, and the element dB pointing toward P.
[/B]
##d\vec{B}=\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{I\vec{ds}\sin\theta}{r^2}## where ##\theta## is the angle between ##\hat{r}## and ##\vec{ds}## therefore ##\sin\theta=\sqrt{\frac{x^2+L^2/4}{z^2+x^2+L^2/4}}##
From the symmetry of the problem it's clear that only the components parallel to ##x## will be leftover which seem to be given by ##\sin\phi## but in the solution they are given by ##\cos\phi## which doesn't make any sense to me.
 
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  • Diagram of a square wire loop of side L carrying current I, with a dashed axis through its center and a point P at distance x from the center along the axis.
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What angle does ##d\vec{B}## make to the x axis?
 
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TSny said:
What angle does ##d\vec{B}## make to the x axis?
Okay I got the angle it makes with the x-axis from the most basic case where ##x=0##

On one side of the x-axis all angles must add up to ##\pi## therefore (where x is the angle between ##d\vec{B}## and the x axis):
$$
\pi=(\pi/2-\phi)+\pi/2+x\Longrightarrow x=\phi
$$

Thanks it makes sense now!
 
Potatochip911 said:
On one side of the x-axis all angles must add up to ##\pi## therefore (where x is the angle between ##d\vec{B}## and the x axis):
$$
\pi=(\pi/2-\phi)+\pi/2+x\Longrightarrow x=\phi
$$

Yes. Nice.
 
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