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Magnetism

Introduction to Magnetism
The study of classical physics is divided into five parts:

Mechanics Thermodynamics Electricity and Magnetism (E/M) Waves, Sound, and Light Atomic and Nuclear Physics

Electricity was divided into two main topics: Electrostatics: the study of charges at rest Electric Circuits: the study of charges in motion Magnetism is also divided into two parts: Magnetostatics: the study of constant magnetic fields (Chapter 20) Electromagnetic Induction: the study of magnetic fields that change with time (Chapter 21) These are the final two chapters of electricity and magnetism. In this chapter, we will be introducing the magnetic force and the magnetic field. This chapter deals with magnetostatics or magnetic fields that do not change with time. This chapter is broken down into four lessons:

Magnetism and Magnetic Fields Forces acting on Moving Charges Forces acting on Current-Carrying Wires Magnetic Fields around Current-Carrying Wires

Lesson 1: Magnetic Fields and Forces on Moving Particles


History of Magnetism
(From: http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/schoolzone/Info_Magnets.cfm) The history of magnetism began many, many years ago. Legend has it that an elderly shepherd named Magnes was herding his sheep in an area of Northern Greece called Magnesia about 4,000 years ago. It is said that the nails in his shoes and the metal tip of his staff became firmly stuck to the large, black rock on which he was standing. This type of rock was subsequently named magnetite, after either Magnesia or Magnes himself.

Magnetism Stories of magnetism date back to the first century B.C. For many years following its discovery, magnetite was surrounded in superstition and was considered to possess magical powers, such as the ability to heal the sick, frighten away evil spirits, and attract ships made of iron! Unlike amber (fossilized tree resin), magnetite was able to attract objects without first being rubbed (as we learned in electrostatics). This made magnetite even far more magical. People soon realized that magnetite not only attracted objects made of iron, but when made into the shape of a needle and floated on water, magnetite always pointed in a north-south direction creating a primitive compass. This led to an alternative name for magnetite ~ lodestone ~ meaning "leading stone". Only iron and a few other materials, such as cobalt, nickel, gadolinium, and some of their oxides and alloys show strong magnetic effects. All of these substances are said to be ferromagnetic ~ that is, possessing magnetic effects. Objects made out of ferromagnetic materials are called magnets. So we have known for a long time that magnets produce magnetic effects. It was not until the 1800s, however, that we learned that electric currents also produce magnetic effects. This was a grand discovery for it tied together both electricity and magnetism. This realization also further fueled the thought that all of physics is closely intertwined and that a Grand Unification Theory probably exists. Much of the research in modern physics today centers on trying to tie gravity to the concepts of electricity and magnetism. Perhaps there will be a physics breakthrough in your lifetime! In real life, the many practical devices depends on the effects of magnetism: from compasses to motors, loudspeakers, computer memory, MRI scans, and electric generators. In Summary: What causes magnetic effects?

Magnets Electric currents

What do we know about magnets?


Magnets have a north pole and a south pole Like poles repel, unlike poles attract There is no magnetic monopole meaning that you cannot create just a north pole or just a south pole. If you cut a magnet in half, you will have a smaller magnet with both a north and south pole.

Magnetism

What is a magnetic field?


The magnetic field is the space around a magnet in which magnetic forces are present.

The symbol for the magnetic field is B. The strength of the magnetic field is measured in Teslas (T). One Tesla is also equal to 1 Weber per meter squared (1 T = 1 Wb/m2). The Weber will be used in the next chapter.

Magnetic field is a vector. The magnetic field has both a magnitude and a direction.

We will learn how to calculate the magnitude (strength) of the magnetic field in Lesson 4. I (B = o ) 2r We use right-hand rules to determine the direction. (Part of this lesson is to learn the right-hand rules.)

What does the magnetic field look like?


For the AP test, you should know what the magnetic field around a bar magnet and horseshoe magnet look like. Even the Earth can be thought of as a simple bar magnet! The direction of the magnetic field at any point is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass would point. Furthermore, the magnetic field can be visualized with magnetic field lines. Lining up the needles of multiple compasses or sprinkling tiny iron filings around a magnet allows us to see the shape of the magnetic field.

Magnetism

Facts about Magnetic Field Lines


Magnetic field lines always point from the north pole toward the south pole of a bar magnet Magnetic field lines within a horseshoe magnet are practically parallel. There the magnetic field strength within the horseshoe magnet is constant. Magnetic field lines continue inside a magnet to form continuous loops The more closely spaced the lines, the greater the magnetic field strength The direction of the magnetic field is tangent to a field line at any point

Magnetism

The Earths Magnetic Field (just interesting stuff!!)


There is also a magnetic field around the Earth. The magnetic field is shaped as if there was a bar magnet inside the Earth. The Earth's magnetic field is slightly tilted with respect to the planet's spin axis. Therefore, the Geographic North Pole and the Magnetic North Pole are not actually in the same place. There is currently an 11-12 difference between the two. Compasses point toward the Magnetic North Pole not the Geographic North Pole. So if youre using a compass to find Santas Workshop, you may get lost! Even more interesting, the magnetic north and south poles of the Earth are continually moving. Although scientists do not understand all of the details, we know that the Magnetic North Pole moved approximately 1,100 km (684 miles) during the 20th century. Scientists have also discovered that the strength of the Earths magnetic field has been decreasing slightly ever since around 1850. Over the course of the Earth's history, the Earth magnetic field has actually reversed itself many times, with the North Pole becoming the South Pole and vice versa!

How to draw magnetic fields on paper


In this chapter, many of the variables act at right angle to one another. As a result, we will be using the x, y, and z axes. We need to be able to represent the direction of the magnetic field on paper. We indicate the direction of the magnetic field by a series of arrows. We describe the direction as +/- x, y, or z. Magnetic field lines in the +z direction point out of the paper. If you were looking at them, you would see the tips of the arrows. Therefore, the +z direction is represented by a series of dots (arrow tips). Magnetic field lines in the z direction point into the paper. If you pretend that the arrows have feathers on them, you would see the x shape of the feathers. As a result, xs stand for the z direction. The following are examples of standard conventions: +x direction -y direction x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x

+z direction

-z direction

Force that acts on Moving Charges


When a charge is placed in an electric field, it experiences a force. (F = qE) When a charge is placed in a magnetic field, it also experiences a force provided the following two conditions are met:

The charge is moving. (The magnetic force does not act on stationary charges.)

Magnetism

The velocity of the charge (or a component of the velocity) is perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field.

If these conditions are met, a magnetic force acts on the moving charge. The equation for the magnetic force is

F = qvB

where:

q is the magnitude of the charge in Coulombs (C) v is the velocity of the charge in m/s B is the strength of the magnetic field in Teslas

The direction of the force is always perpendicular to the direction of the velocity and also perpendicular to the direction of the B. This means that each of the variables (F, v, an B) all act perpendicular to one another ~ each residing on the x, y, or z axis. Because of the three-dimensional nature of this topic, we use right-hand rules to help us determine the direction of the variable in question. The perpendicular nature of these variables and the related right-hand rule are the focus of this lesson.

Direction of the Magnetic Force ~ Right Hand Rules (RHR)


There are really three right-hand rules. We only need to know two of them, however, for this class so we will pretend that there are only two. There is also little consistency between the rules. What one book or website calls RHR1, another calls RHR2 or 3. And even more annoying, the explanation for how to use the rules differs by textbook, website, or person. I will share with you what I have found to be the easiest method for students to learn. My method is slightly different than the one described in your book. This is another one of those topics that is really easy to show you how to do but difficult to explain in words. Here goes I will call this Right-Hand-Rule #1 or RHR1.

Right-Hand Rule #1: Direction of Force acting on a Moving Charge


RHR1 is used to determine the direction of the magnetic force that acts on a charge moving through a magnetic field. We will use the pictures below as example problems. The black arrows, dots, or xs indicate the direction of the magnetic field; the red arrows show the direction of the velocity of the particle. We are trying to determine the direction of the magnetic force that is produced. Like all topics in electricity and magnetism, right-hand rules are based on what a positive test charge or a positively-charged particle would do. If you are asked about an electron or a

Magnetism negatively-charged particle, just flip your final answer (i.e. +x becomes x, etc). Or you can use your left hand for negative particles And a warning to all you lefties out there: I am left-handed and have always struggled with RHRs because if I dont consciously think about it, I invariably use my left hand! Lets do Example 4 (below) as we learn the steps of the right-hand rule. Procedure for using RHR1: (Obviously, use your RIGHT HAND!!!) 1. Point your fingers in the direction of the velocity of the particle. (Hold your hand out straight ~ fingers pointing straight out ~ as if you were about to shake someones hand. Thumb and fingers should make an L shape.) For Example 4, your fingers (hand) should be pointing to the left or in the -x direction. You then curl (bend) your fingers in the direction of the magnetic field. (Keep thumb pointing out.) For Example 4, your fingers should curl towards you or in the +z direction. Sometimes you have to rotate your hand to curl properly! If you did everything correctly, your thumb will be pointing in the direction of the magnetic force that acts on the particle. For Example 4, your thumb should be pointing straight up or in the +y direction.

2.

3.

Note that we used all three dimensions.


velocity: -x magnetic field: -z magnetic force: +y

Practice: Try the remaining examples. Check your answers below. Remember, the red shows the motion of the particle; the black is the direction of the field.

Example 1

Example 2

Example 3

Example 4

Answers: (direction of magnetic force)

Magnetism Example 1: -x Example 2: -z Example 3: +z Example 4: +y

Possible paths of a particle through a magnetic field


Consider a magnetic field acting in the +x direction. (The magnetic field is shown in blue in the picture below.) Suppose three positively-charged particles are moving through the field as shown. Particle 1 is moving parallel to the field, particle 2 moves perpendicular to the field, and particle 3 is moving at some odd angle through the field. Lets look at the force produced on each of these three possibilities in detail.

Three possible paths through a magnetic field


Note: Blue is field, green is velocity of particle Case 1: Moving parallel or anti-parallel through a magnetic field If a charged particle moves parallel or antiparallel through a magnetic field, no force acts on the particle!! The magnetic force only exists when the velocity of the particle is perpendicular to the magnetic field!! Path of particle: straight line (particle moves through field undeflected.) Case 2: Moving perpendicular through a magnetic field Example 1: If a charged particle moves perpendicular through a magnetic field, it experiences a magnetic force equal to F = qvB. The direction of the force can be found using RHR1. For this example, the magnetic force acts in the z direction. -----------------------------------------------------------------------Example 2: Suppose a charge particle moves in the +x direction -------------------------------o
a v

Magnetism

through a field that acts in the +z direction. Because v and B are perpendicular to one another, a magnetic force acts on the particle as it moves through the field. Using RHR1, the direction of the magnetic force is -y. This direction of this force is drawn in the diagram to the right in red. Newtonss second law says that an object will accelerate in the direction of the net force and that the acceleration is in the same direction as the net force. The net force acting on this particle is the magnetic force, F = qvB. (The gravitational force is negligible.) So now we have a particle that is moving forward with a constant velocity that also experiences an acceleration in the y direction. (I hope this reminds you of projectile motion ~ fired horizontally from the top of a cliff!!! Yes, we even have projectile motion in Magnetism!! ) Because the magnetic force continues to act on the particle, the particle ends up traveling in a circular path. Path of particle: Circle!!! Click here to view a web animation of this example. Case 3: Moving at an angle through a magnetic field If a charged particle moves through a magnetic field at an angle , it will also experience a magnetic force. However, only the component of the velocity that acts perpendicular to the field affects the force. This component is shown in red in the diagram to the right. In this example, it is equal to (v sin). In this equation, F = qvB, v stands for the velocity perpendicular to the field. So only the y-component can be used in the equation. Applying RHR1 to the y-component of the velocity, we find that the magnetic force acts in the z direction.

o o o o o

o o o o o

o o o o o

o o o o o

o o o o o

o o o o o

o o o o o

Path is clockwise circle! Radius can be found from: Fc = mv 2 r mv 2 qvB = r

Determining path of particle: The perpendicular component of the velocity acts in the +y direction, the force (and therefore the acceleration) acts in the z direction. This produces a vertical, circular path ~ traveling into the paper at the top of the circle and Radius of vertical circle coming out of the paper at the bottom of the circle. (I know that is can be found from: confusing. It is a three-dimensional model.) The x-component of

Magnetism

the original velocity also affects the motion of the particle. The ycomponent is responsible for the vertical, circular path. The xcomponent of the velocity stretches the circle resulting in a helical or spiral path!! Path of particle: helical or spiral path

Fc =

mv 2 r mv 2 qvB = r

vx is rate of motion in xdirection

Work done by magnetic fields


When a charge moves between the plates of a capacitor, the electric field does work on the charge. (F = qE, V = Ed, and W = qV) Remember, that for work to be done, the object must move in the same direction as the force. (W = Fd). A charged object moving between the plates of a capacitor moves parallel or anti-parallel to the field. In both cases, work is done. Magnetic fields, however, do no work!!!!! This is because the magnetic force always acts perpendicular to the velocity of the charge. Therefore, they never act in the same direction!! This is a common trick question. W = 0 for magnetic fields!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Magnetism

Sample Problems
Sample Problem1: Particle 1 (below in picture), with a charge of 3.6 C and a velocity of 862 m/s, travels at right angles through a uniform magnetic field. If the particle experiences a magnetic force of .00425 N, what is the strength of the magnetic field? Solution: v and B are at right angles, so force exists! F = qvB .00425 = (3.6x10 6 )(862)(B) B = 1. 37 T

Sample Problem 2: Particle 2 (above in picture), with a charge of 53 C and a speed of 1300 m/s, moves at an angle of 55 relative to the 1.37 T magnetic field. Calculate the magnetic force acting on the particle. Solution: F = qvB F = (53x10 6 )(1300 sin55)(1.37) F = .0773 N

Sample Problem 3: An electron travels 2 x 107 m/s in the +x direction in a magnetic field acting in the z direction. If the magnitude of the field is .01 T, quantitatively describe the motion of the electron.

v and B are at right angles, so force exists! F = qvB F = (1.6x10 19 )(2x107 )(.01) F = 3.2x10 14 N Direction of force: From RHR1, force acts on positive charge in the +y direction. Therefore, forces on an electron in the y direction. Motion is a circle as shown in picture below.

Magnetism Radius of circle can be found from centripetal force equation: mv 2 Fc = r What provides the centripetal force?? Answer: The magnetic force!!! qvB = qB = mv 2 r (divide both sides by v)

mv r (9.1x10 31 )(2x107 ) r

(1.6x10 19 )(.01) = r = .011 m

Sample Problem 4: It is very common on the AP test to mix electric and magnetic fields. A particle can be made to pass through these combined fields undeflected (in a straight line) if you set the electric field equal to the magnetic field. We will be solving this problem on the DB

FE = qE and FB = qvB

You should now be ready to do WA1: Force acting on Moving Charges

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