Problem 16.5.1 (Section 16.

5)

A long thin flat strip of metal carries a current I which is distributed uniformly

across its width w.

Determine the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field strength at a point P
in the plane of the strip and a distance l from its edge.

Solution
Figure 16.5.1a shows a cross section of the strip, divided into narrow sections of width
x, located a distance x from P.

Figure 16.5.1a
Each section may be treated as a long thin wire, as considered in Section 16.5(a) Case 2
(R > a) of Understanding Physics. The derivation of H for Case 2 may be applied to a
wire of rectangular cross section if x > x. The magnetic field strength at P due to each
ΔI
section is therefore ΔH  where I is the proportion of the current carried by the
2x
I  Δx  I  Δx 
section, i.e. ΔI  → ΔH 
w 2wx
The total field strength at P is obtained by integrating across the width of the strip (using
Appendix Table A.2),
l  w dx  w
H   dH 
I I
ln xll  w  I
2w l
= ln 1   .
x 2w 2w  l 

If, as indicated in Figure 16.5.1a, the current flows into the plane of the page, according
to the right hand rule the contribution, H, from each section of the strip will be in the
direction shown in the figure. The total field is in this direction.