Magnetic field of an infinite plane

1. Oct 7, 2008

granpa

what would the magnetic field of an infinite plane of current look like. its either zero or 1/d. I cant tell which.

all current in the same direction and entirely within the plane of course.

this is not homework unless self study is considered homework.

really, I want to understand why the external field of an infinite solenoid is zero.

2. Oct 7, 2008

granpa

well I'm quite sure it would be zero. I'm just not completely sure why

3. Oct 7, 2008

clem

If the plane had a surface current density K then B=2pi K/c (in Gaussian units),
using Ampere's law. This result enters in the calculation of the reflection of a plane wave by a conductor.

4. Oct 7, 2008

ibc

I got that too, from ampere's law, but wouldn't we expect the field to decrease when getting farther from the plane?

5. Oct 7, 2008

Antenna Guy

It would look just like the electric field, but rotated 90deg (and 90deg out of phase). Think of a plane wave striking the plate - the magnetic field induces the current.

If you are only considering one direction (+z?), it is 1/d. If you consider both directions (+/-z), it is zero (because the magnetic fields in opposite directions would be 180deg out of phase). [correction: it would be 1/d for a finite plate]

Similar to the above, but different.

No - because the infinite plate of uniform current has infinite gain perpendicular to the plate (all the energy is ratiated in a single direction).

Regards,

Bill

Last edited: Oct 7, 2008
6. Oct 7, 2008

ibc

the field is not infinite, and the gain of farther plane elements is decreasing to zero in infinity, so when you are farther away from the plane, each of these elements' field is smaller.
and it's not all in the same direction, as you get farther away (from the point at which you measure the field), the direction of the field is changing (of course when you go to the other side you get the same effect with opposite direction, so eventually the field is only in 1 direction parallel to the plane (perpendicular to the corrent), but alot of the "energy" cancels out and don't contribute to the field.

7. Oct 7, 2008

granpa

looks like I totally missed the mark. so its constant. just like the field of an infinite plane of electric charge.

thanks for all the help