Magnetic Field Using Amperian Loops inside a wire

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Homework Help Overview

The discussion revolves around determining the magnetic field inside a wire with a uniform current density, specifically focusing on a hole within the wire's cross-section. The original poster is exploring how the magnetic field behaves in the presence of this hole and is questioning the uniformity of the magnetic field within it.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Assumption checking, Conceptual clarification

Approaches and Questions Raised

  • The original poster attempts to calculate the magnetic field at various points within the hole and questions the uniformity of the field distribution. They consider the contributions from the wire and the hole and express confusion about how the field behaves at different distances from the center.
  • Some participants suggest treating the magnetic field as a vector sum of the fields from the wire and the hole, using Ampere's law to analyze each contribution based on their respective geometries.
  • There is a recurring inquiry about the need to calculate the magnetic field due to a uniform current of radius r and how to account for the hole's contribution.

Discussion Status

The discussion is ongoing, with participants exploring different interpretations of how to approach the problem. Some guidance has been offered regarding the use of Ampere's law and the vector sum of fields, but there is no explicit consensus on the distribution of the magnetic field within the hole.

Contextual Notes

Participants are navigating the complexities of the problem, including the assumptions about current density and the geometry of the hole. There is an acknowledgment of the need for clarity regarding the magnetic field's behavior at various points within the hole.

Fusilli_Jerry89
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Homework Statement


There is a cross-section wire or radius R with a uniform current density j flowing through it. There is a hole in the wire's cross section (a vacuum) a distance b away from the centre of the cross section. The hole has radius a. What is the magnetic field B in the hole as a function of r?


Homework Equations


B(integral of ds) = (mu)(current)

The Attempt at a Solution


If we draw an amperian loop just outside the hole (so r = b + a) we get:
B(1) = (mu)jr/2
and B(2) = (mu)j(a^2)/2r
and B = B(1) - B(2) = (mu)j(r^2 - a^2)/2r

If we do the same just before the hole (so r = b - a) we get:

B = (mu)jr/2 [because the hole does not affect the magnetic field in this case)


But how can we find B in other places inside the hole (in the middle of the hole B = (mu)jb/2 ). My prof says that the magnetic field is uniformly distributed inside the hole is the same (or maybe he said something different but similar), but how can this be? As far as I understand, we can get the B in the hole by visualizing a current in the wire without the hole and then adding a current in the opposite direction (the question says we can assume it's the same density) in order to form the hole. From my understanding, the B of the wire without the hole gets bigger as we get further from the center, right? But if this is true, then wouldn't B be bigger when r = b + a than when r = b, and even bigger than when r = b - a? Can someone please explain this to me? How is B distributed inside the hole? Thx.

Also, if we were to try to find B inside the hole (besides the centre, or r=b+a, or r=b-a)
wouldn't we need to find the area of the hole that's beneath r? So if r was just a little bigger than b, wouldn't the area be just about half of (pi)a^2 ?
 
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Treat the field as the vector sum of the fields of: (1) A uniform current of radius R, and (2) A uniform current (oppositely directed) of radius a. Use Ampere's law to solve for the field of each as a function of distance from their respective centers. Note that (1) is centered at r = 0, while (2) is centered at the center of the hole.
 
Doc Al said:
Treat the field as the vector sum of the fields of: (1) A uniform current of radius R, and (2) A uniform current (oppositely directed) of radius a. Use Ampere's law to solve for the field of each as a function of distance from their respective centers. Note that (1) is centered at r = 0, while (2) is centered at the center of the hole.

What if r is inside the hole though? Wouldn't i need to calculate the B due to a uniform current of radius r, and then subtract the B due to the current of part of the hole? I know B(1) will be (mu)jr/2, but wouldn't B(2) be (mu)j(area of part of hole)/2(pi)r ?

Did u read my long question above? Maybe it didn't make sense but I already stated what you told me to do.
 
Fusilli_Jerry89 said:
What if r is inside the hole though?
What about it?
Wouldn't i need to calculate the B due to a uniform current of radius r, and then subtract the B due to the current of part of the hole? I know B(1) will be (mu)jr/2, but wouldn't B(2) be (mu)j(area of part of hole)/2(pi)r ?
Not sure I understand what you're saying here. To repeat what I already said, the field at any point, including inside the hole, is the vector sum of the two field contributions already defined.

Did u read my long question above? Maybe it didn't make sense but I already stated what you told me to do.
I read your post and question about how the field is distributed in the hole. And I thought I answered it accurately, but maybe I misunderstood you. :wink:
 

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