Calculating Magnetic Field of a Conducting Loop Using Biot-Savart's Law

Click For Summary
The discussion focuses on calculating the magnetic field at the center of a square conducting loop using Biot-Savart's Law. Participants explore the integration process, noting that the magnetic field contributions from each side of the loop can be combined. One user emphasizes that only one side needs to be integrated, as the contributions are symmetrical. The integration involves using trigonometric identities to simplify the calculations, particularly in determining the angle between the current element and the radius vector. The final expression for the magnetic field strength at the center of the loop is confirmed to be H = sqrt(2) * I / (π * a) in the z direction.
formulajoe
Messages
177
Reaction score
0
A square conducting loop of side 2a lies in the z=0 plane and carries a current in the counterclockwise direction. Show that at the center of the loop
H = sqrrt2*I/pi*a in the z direction.

I am stuck in this problem. Heres what I've got. I placed the center of the loop at the origin. I am using Biot-Savarts Law. I found an R vector to be sqrt x^2 + y2 in the rho direction and cos x/sqrt x^2 + y2 in the phi direction. Heres where I am stuck. When I go to do the integral, my dl depends on the side I am integrating. So if I am my dl is dx, i don't know how to cross that why R because R has the unit vectors rho and phi.
:confused:
 
Physics news on Phys.org
I didn't quiet understand your approach. Find the magnetic field due to one wire of length 2a at a distance a from it's center. Contribution from each wire is same. So B = 4 * B(A).

|
| a
|-----A
|
|

From the center of the wire at a distance l choose current element dl.
Distance between dl and A is r.

Using biot law,

B(A) = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int_{-a}^{a} \frac{I dl X n}{r^2}

B(A) = \frac{\mu_0 I}{4\pi}\int_{-a}^{a} \frac{dl sin \theta}{a^2+l^2}

sin \theta = a / \sqrt (a^2 + l^2)

Do the integration.

B(A) = \frac{\mu_0 I}{4\pi a}* \sqrt 2


H = 4* H(A) = \frac{I}{\pi a} * \sqrt 2
 
where does the sin theta come from in that second step
 
formulajoe said:
A square conducting loop of side 2a lies in the z=0 plane and carries a current in the counterclockwise direction. Show that at the center of the loop
H = sqrrt2*I/pi*a in the z direction.

I am stuck in this problem. Heres what I've got. I placed the center of the loop at the origin. I am using Biot-Savarts Law. I found an R vector to be sqrt x^2 + y2 in the rho direction and cos x/sqrt x^2 + y2 in the phi direction. Heres where I am stuck. When I go to do the integral, my dl depends on the side I am integrating. So if I am my dl is dx, i don't know how to cross that why R because R has the unit vectors rho and phi.
:confused:
You only have to do one side because they all add together. Call them sides 1, 2, 3, 4.

B_1 = \mu_0I \int \frac{d\vec L \times \vec r}{4\pi r^2} = \frac{\mu_0I}{4\pi} \int \frac{rdlsin\theta}{r^2}

In polar coordinates:

dL = cos\theta d\theta
r = a/cos\theta

So:
B_1 = \frac{\mu_0I}{4\pi} \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \frac{(a/cos\theta)cos\theta d\theta sin\theta}{(a/cos\theta)^2}

B_1 = \frac{\mu_0I}{4\pi} \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} \frac{asin\theta cos^2\theta}{a^2}d\theta


Since B = 4B_1:

B = \frac{\mu_0I}{\pi a} \int_{-\pi/4}^{\pi/4} sin\theta cos^2\theta d\theta

You have to use some trigonometric identities to integrate that. Better check my math too.

AM
 
In my first integral, n is the unit vector along the direction of vector r. sin \theta comes in when you take the cross product of dl X n. sin \theta is the angle between r and dl.
 

Attachments

  • mag field.JPG
    mag field.JPG
    2.3 KB · Views: 501
The book claims the answer is that all the magnitudes are the same because "the gravitational force on the penguin is the same". I'm having trouble understanding this. I thought the buoyant force was equal to the weight of the fluid displaced. Weight depends on mass which depends on density. Therefore, due to the differing densities the buoyant force will be different in each case? Is this incorrect?

Similar threads

  • · Replies 15 ·
Replies
15
Views
1K
Replies
2
Views
1K
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
1K
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
2K
  • · Replies 18 ·
Replies
18
Views
2K
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
3
Views
3K
  • · Replies 37 ·
2
Replies
37
Views
4K