Magnetic Induction (Non-uniform Current)

Join the discussion
Ask a follow-up here, or get your own question answered by working scientists, mathematicians and engineers — people, not an autocomplete.
Real named experts · corrections over time · the nuance an AI answer skips
2 replies · 2K views
roam
Messages
1,265
Reaction score
12

Homework Statement



long wire of radius R0 carries a current density j given by


Find the magnetic induction B inside and outside the wire.

Homework Equations



Current density: ##J=\frac{I}{A}##

Ampere's law: ##\oint B.dl = \mu_0 I_{enc}##

The Attempt at a Solution



For the magnetic field inside (ρ<R0) using Ampere's law:

##\oint B . dl = B 2 \pi \rho = \mu_0 I_{enc}##

Now I'm not sure what to use as Ienc. If I use the relationship

##I_{enc}=JA=j_0 \frac{\rho}{R} \pi \rho^2 = j_0 \frac{\rho^3 \pi}{R}##

I get

##B= \frac{\mu_0 j_0 \rho^2 }{2 R_0}##

But if I integrate (in cylindrical coordinates) I will get a different value for Ienc:

##I_{enc}= \int \frac{j_0 \rho}{R_0} (\rho \ d \rho \ d \phi) = \frac{j_0}{R_0} 2 \pi \int^\rho_0 \rho^2 d \rho = \frac{2 \pi j_0 \rho^3}{3R_0}##

Therefore I get a different value for B:

##B=\frac{\mu_0 j_0 \rho^2}{3R_0}##

So which method is correct? :confused:

And for the magnetic field outside, I get ##B=0## since the RHS of Ampere's equation is 0. But shouldn't the magnetic field inside a conducting wire be zero, and non-zero outside it?

Any explanation would be greatly appreciated.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Physics news on Phys.org
Because J is a function of radius. [tex]I=\int { J\cdot dA }[/tex] The second method looks fine.

For the second question: What is the enclosed current outside? Is it zero?
 
  • Like
Likes   Reactions: 1 person
roam said:
1.


You don't need to integrate over phi explicitly. Using r in place of ρ:

A differential annulus of area dA = 2πr dr contains current di = j(r)dA = 2πr j(r) dr
so current within radius r = 2πj0/R00r r2 dr
= 2πj0r3/3R0
= 2πrB/μ0 etc.