Question

Find the magnetic field at the point o due to the flow of current i in the given wire

Answer 1

Consider a circular coil of radius a and carrying current I in the direction shown in Figure. Suppose the loop lies in the plane of paper. It is desired to find the magnetic field at the centre O of the coil. Suppose the entire circular coil is divided into a large number of current elements, each of length dl. According to Biot-Savart law, the magnetic field at the centre O of the coil due to current element I  is given by;

where  is the position vector of point O from the current element. The magnitude of  at the centre O is

The direction of  is perpendicular to the plane of the coil and is directed inwards. Since each current element contributes to the magnetic field in the same direction, the total magnetic field B at the center O can be found by integrating the above equation around the loop i.e.

For each current element, angle between  and  is 90°. Also distance of each current element from the center O is a. Therefore

Now, dl = Total length of the coil

 = 2  a

If the coil has n turns, each carrying current in the same direction, then contributions of all the turns are added up, then

B =

Answer 2

To get the magnetic field at a point, consider a wire of length l.

• The wire of length l, is a straight in shape, and the current i will be start flowing through the wire.

• As the current start flowing through the wire, put a paper in the center of wire as showing wire is passing through the paper.

• Now put the iron fillings on the paper which show the magnetic field existence.

• As the current start flowing, the iron fillings will arrange themselves in the circular rings, which means there is magnetic field.

• The right hand rule will show the direction of magnetic field.