Physics 2113

Jonathan Dowling

Magnetic Fields

Aurora Borealis
Hans Christian Oersted (1777 – 1851)
How Do You Use
Magnetic Fields
in Your Everyday
Life!?
What Produces Magnetic Field?:
One way that magnetic fields are produced is to
use moving electrically charged particles, such as
a current in a wire, to make an electromagnet.
The current produces a magnetic field that is
utilizable.

The other way to produce a magnetic field is by

means of elementary particles such as electrons,
because these particles have an intrinsic
magnetic field around them.

The magnetic fields of the electrons in certain

materials add together to give a net magnetic
field around the material. Such addition is the
reason why a permanent magnet, has a
permanent magnetic field.

In other materials, the magnetic fields of the

electrons cancel out, giving no net magnetic field
surrounding the material.
 Electric vs. Magnetic Fields

Electric fields are created:

 microscopically, by electric charges (fields) of elementary particles (electrons, protons)
 macroscopically,by adding the field of many elementary charges of the same sign

Magnetic fields are created :

 microscopically, by magnetic “moments” of elementary particles
(electrons, protons, neutrons)
 macroscopically, by
• adding many microscopic magnetic moments
(magnetic materials); or by
• electric charges that move (electric currents)
 Magnetic Field Direction
B E

FROM North Poles

Compare to Electric
Field Directions
TO South Poles
Law of Attraction and Repulsion for Magnets

Opposite Poles Attract

Like Poles Repel

 Magnetic vs. Electric Forces
Electric Force on
Charge Parallel to E:
+q
 
FE  qE

Magnetic Force on
Charge Perpendicular to
B and v.
+q
Magnetic vs. Electric Forces
We know that an electric fields exists because it accelerates
electric charges, with a force independent of the velocity
of the charge, proportional to the electric charge: FE = qE

We know that a magnetic field exists because it accelerates

electric charges in a direction perpendicular to the velocity
of the charge, with a magnitude proportional to the velocity
of the charge and to the magnitude of the charge: FB= q v x B

Magnetic forces are perpendicular to both the velocity of charges

and to the magnetic field (electric forces are parallel to the field).

Since magnetic forces are perpendicular to the velocity,

they do no work! (W = F · r = F r cos(90°) = 0

Speed of particles moving in a magnetic field remains constant

in magnitude, ONLY the direction changes.
Kinetic energy is constant! (no work).
Finding the Magnetic Force on a Particle:

Always assume particle is POSITIVELY charged to work

Out direction then flip your thumb over if it is NEGATIVE.
(a) + z

(b) - x
(c) sin180° = 0
 Definition of Magnetic Field

Definition of Electric Field:

Definition of Magnetic Field:

é Newton ù é Newton ù é Newton ù é N ù

Units : B = ê ú=ê ú=ê ú=ê ú
ë Coulomb × ( meter/sec) û ë( Coulomb/sec) × meter û ë Ampere × meter û ë A× mû

é N ù
[ T] = ê A × m ú =[ Tesla ]
ë û
The Definition of B:
The SI unit for B that follows is newton
per coulomb-meter per second. For
convenience, this is called the tesla (T):

An earlier (non-SI) unit for B is the gauss

(G), and
F1 = 0 B + ⊙ E F3 = 0 B + ⊙ E

F2 = ⊙ B + ⊙ E F4 = - ⊙ B + ⊙ E

(a) F2 > F1 = F3

(b) F4 = 0
28.4: Crossed Fields, Discovery of an Electron:

When the two fields in Fig. 28-7 are adjusted so that the two deflecting forces acting on the
charged particle cancel, we have

Thus, the crossed fields allow us to measure the speed of the charged particles passing
through them.
The deflection of a charged particle, moving through an electric field, E, between two
plates, at the far end of the plates (in the previous problem) is

Here, v is the particle’s speed, m its mass, q its charge, and L is the length of the plates.

Experiment measured electrons mass to charge ratio m/q.

Example, Magnetic Force on a Moving Charged Particle :
The Hall Effect — Charge Flow in Conductors is From Electrons:
Benjamin Franklin’s Biggest Blunder!
 Crossed Fields, The Hall Effect:
Fig. 28-8 A strip of copper carrying a current i is immersed in a magnetic
field . (a)The situation immediately after the magnetic field is turned on. The
curved path that will then be taken by an electron is shown. (b) The situation
at equilibrium, which quickly follows. Note that negative charges pile up on
the right side of the strip, leaving uncompensated positive charges on the
left. Thus, the left side is at a higher potential than the right side. (c) For the
same current direction, if the charge carriers were positively charged, they
would pile up on the right side, and the right side would be at the higher
potential.

A Hall potential difference V is associated with the electric field across strip
width d, and the magnitude of that potential difference is V =Ed. When the
electric and magnetic forces are in balance (Fig. 28-8b),

where vd is the drift speed. But,

Where J is the current density, A the cross-sectional area, e the electronic charge,
and n the number of charges per unit volume.

Therefore, Here, l=( A/d), the thickness of the strip.

 Hall Voltage For Positive Charge Carriers
The current expressed in
terms of the drift velocity
is:
vd = J/ne

I = neAvd
A = ℓd
ℓ
Fmag = evd B
d
eIB IB
Fmag = =
neA nA
At equilibrium:
V Vℓ
Felec = eE = e = e
Fmag = Felec d A

IB
IB
=e
Vℓ VHall =
nA A
VHall = + then carriers +
VHall = - then carriers –
neℓ
28.5.1. Two metal bars, A and B, are identical in all ways, except that bar B
has twice the width l of A. The bars are parallel to each other, but far
apart from each other, in a uniform magnetic field and carry the same
amount of current in a direction perpendicular to the field. How does the
Hall voltage of bar B compare to that of bar A?

a) The Hall voltage for bar B will be four times greater than that of bar A.

b) The Hall voltage for bar B will be two times greater than that of bar A.

c) The Hall voltage for bar B will be the same as that of bar A.

d) The Hall voltage for bar B will be one-half that of bar A.

e) The Hall voltage for bar B will be one-fourth that of bar A.

IB
VHall =
neℓ
The left face is at
a lower electric potential (minus
charges) and the right face is at a
higher
electric potential (plus charges).
 FB = evB
FE = FB V
FE = eE = e
d

V
FE = FB Þ e = evB
d
Þ V = vBd
A Circulating Charged Particle:
Consider a particle of charge magnitude |q| and mass
m moving perpendicular to a uniform magnetic field
B, at speed v.

The magnetic force continuously deflects the particle,

and since B and v are always perpendicular to each
other, this deflection causes the particle to follow a
circular path.

The magnetic force acting on the particle has a

magnitude of |q|vB.

For uniform circular motion

Centrifugal force = Magnetic force:

Fig. 28-10 Electrons circulating in a chamber containing gas

at low pressure (their path is the glowing circle). A uniform
magnetic field, B, pointing directly out of the plane of the
page, fills the chamber. Note the radially directed magnetic
force FB ; for circular motion to occur, FB must point toward
the center of the circle, (Courtesy John Le P.Webb, Sussex
University, England)

T, f, ω do NOT depend on the

velocity v! Just q, B, and m.
Circular Motion: Since magnetic force is perpendicular to motion, the
movement of charges is circular.
v v 2

F Fcentrifugal
out
= ma = mrw 2 = m
r
r
Fmagnetic
in
= qvB FB = FC
mv 2
® qv B =
B into blackboard.
r

mv
Solve : r =
qB

In general, path is
a helix (component of v parallel to
field is unchanged).
 +
- ⊙
⊙

(a) The electron because q = e for both particles v

but m p >> me Þ rp >> re F Å

-
(b) Proton counter-clockwise and electron r
clockwise by right-hand-rule. ⊙
Which has the longer period T? 2p r B into blackboard.
T=
v
Since v is the same and rp >> re the proton has the mv
longer period T. It has to travel around a bigger circle r=
but at the same speed.
qB
 .
mv
r=
electron
Radius of Circlcular Orbit

C . qB
r
v qB
w= =
Angular Frequency:
Independent of v
r m
2pr 2pmv 2pm
Tº = =
Period of Orbit:
Independent of v
v qBv qB

1 qB
f º =
Orbital Frequency:
Independent of v

T 2pm
 Problem
Two charged ions A and B traveling with a
constant velocity v enter a box in which there A v
is a uniform magnetic field directed out of the
page. The subsequent paths are as shown.
What can you conclude?
B

v
(a) Both ions are negatively charged.
(b) Ion A has a larger mass than B.
mv
(c) Ion A has a larger charge than B. r=
qB
(d) None of the above.

RHR says (a) is false. Same charge q, speed v, and same B for both masses. So:
ion with larger mass/charge ratio (m/q) moves in circle of larger radius. But
that’s all we know! Don’t know m or q separately.
Helical Paths:

Fig. 28-11 (a) A charged particle moves in a uniform magnetic field , the particle’s velocity v making an angle φ
with the field direction. (b) The particle follows a helical path of radius r and pitch p. (c) A charged particle
spiraling in a nonuniform magnetic field. (The particle can become trapped, spiraling back and forth between the
strong field regions at either end.) Note that the magnetic force vectors at the left and right sides have a
component pointing toward the center of the figure.

The velocity vector, v, of such a particle resolved into two components, one parallel to and
one perpendicular to it:

The parallel component determines the pitch p of the helix (the distance between adjacent
turns (Fig. 28-11b)). The perpendicular component determines the radius of the helix.
The more closely spaced field lines at the left and right sides indicate that the magnetic field is
stronger there. When the field at an end is strong enough, the particle “reflects” from that end.
If the particle reflects from both ends, it is said to be trapped in a magnetic bottle.
 Electrons Moving in Magnetic Field: Circular Motion

1000V Potential Difference: Heated metal tip:

Accelerates up to KeV Energies. Source of electrons
Example, Helical Motion of a Charged Particle in a Magnetic Field:
Cyclotrons :
Suppose that a proton, injected by source S at the center of the
cyclotron in Fig. 28-13, initially moves toward a negatively
charged dee. It will accelerate toward this dee and enter it.
Once inside, it is shielded from electric fields by the copper
walls of the dee; that is, the electric field does not enter the dee.
The magnetic field, however, is not screened by the
(nonmagnetic) copper dee, so the proton moves in a circular
path whose radius, which depends on its speed, is given
by (r =mv/|q|B).

Let us assume that at the instant the proton emerges into the
center gap from the first dee, the potential difference between
the dees is reversed. Thus, the proton again faces a negatively
charged dee and is again accelerated. This process continues,
the circulating proton always being in step with the oscillations
of the dee potential, until the proton has spiraled out to the edge
of the dee system. There a deflector plate sends it out through a
portal.

The frequency f at which the proton circulates in the magnetic

field (and that does not depend on its speed) must be equal to
the fixed frequency fosc of the electrical oscillator:
The Proton Synchrotron :
At proton energies above 50 MeV, the conventional cyclotron begins to fail.
Also, for a 500 GeV proton in a magnetic field of 1.5 T, the path radius is 1.1
km. The corresponding magnet for a conventional cyclotron of the proper size
would be impossibly expensive.

In the proton synchrotron the magnetic field B, and the oscillator frequency
fosc, instead of having fixed values as in the conventional cyclotron, are made
to vary with time during the accelerating cycle.

When this is done properly,

(1)the frequency of the circulating protons remains in step with the oscillator at
all times, and
(2)the protons follow a circular—not a spiral—path. Thus, the magnet need
extend only along that circular path, not over some 4x106 m2. The circular
path, however, still must be large if high energies are to be achieved.

The proton synchrotron at the Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

(Fermilab) in Illinois has a circumference of 6.3 km and can produce protons
with energies of about 1 TeV ( 1012 eV).
 Magnetic Force on a Wire.

L
 Magnetic Force on a Wire

L
q = it = i
vd
L

Note: If wire is not straight,

compute force on differential elements and
integrate:

i
 f
i .
28.8.2. A portion of a loop of wire passes between the poles of a magnet as shown.
We are viewing the circuit from above. When the switch is closed and a current
passes through the circuit, what is the movement, if any, of the wire between the
poles of the magnet?

a) The wire moves toward

the north pole of the magnet.

b) The wire moves toward the

south pole of the magnet.

c) The wire moves upward

(toward us).

d) The wire moves downward (away from us into board).

e) The wire doesn’t move.

i
 Example
Wire with current i.
Magnetic field out of page.
What is net force on wire?

F1 = F3 = iLB
dF = iBdL = iBRdq
By symmetry, F2 will only
have a vertical component,
p p
F2 = ò sin(q )dF =iBR ò sin(q )dq =2iBR
0 0

Ftotal = F1 + F2 + F3 = iLB + 2iRB + iLB = 2iB( L + R)

Notice that the force is the same as that for a straight wire of length R,
and this would be true no
L R R L matter what the shape of
the central segment!.
-y direction ¯
i
 SP28-06

Fgrav = mg Fmag = iLB

-3
m / L = 46.6 ´10 kg/m
To balance: ICPP: i
Find Direction of B
Fgrav = Fmag
46.6 ´ 10 –3 kg
Þ mg = iLB B= m | 9.8 m
s2
| 28 Cs
1.6 ´ 10 –2 kg
mg æ m ö g =
ÞB= =ç ÷ s×C

iL è L ø i = 16 ´ 10 T = 16 mT
–3
 Example 4: The Rail Gun
 Conducting projectile of length 2cm, rails
mass 10g carries constant current
100A between two rails. B I L
 Magnetic field B = 100T points
outward.
 Assuming the projectile starts from projectile
rest at t = 0, what is its speed after a
time t = 1s?

 Force on projectile: F= iLB (from F = iL x B)

 Acceleration: a = F/m = iLB/m (from F = ma)
v = at = iLBt/m (from v = v0 + at)

= (100A)(0.02m)(100T)(1s)/(0.01kg) = 2000m/s
= 4,473mph =
Electromagnetic Slingshot
These Devices Can
Launch 1000kg Projectiles
At Mach 100 at a Rate of
1000 Projectiles Per Second.

Using KE = 1/2mv2

This corresponds to an output

about 1012 Watts = TeraWatt.

Uses: Put Supplies on Mars 80

days after launch.

Current time to Mars on

Ordinary Rocket? 1.5-3 years.
 Principle behind electric motors.
Torque on a Current Loop:
Rectangular coil: A=ab, current = i

Net force on current loop = 0

But: Net torque is NOT zero!

F1 = F3 = iaB
F^ = F1 sin(q )
Torque = t = F^b = iabB sin(q )

For a coil with N turns,

τ = N I A B sin ,
where A is the area of coil
 Magnetic Dipole Moment
We just showed: τ = NiABsinθ
N = number of turns in coil Right hand rule:
A = area of coil. curl fingers in direction
Define: magnetic dipole moment m
of current;
thumb points along 

As in the case of electric dipoles, magnetic dipoles tend to align

with the magnetic field.
 Electric vs. Magnetic Dipoles
+Q

p=Qa

-Q
QE
q

QE
 Magnetic Dipole Moment
We just showed: t = NiABsinq

N = number of turns in coil Right hand rule:

A=area of coil. curl fingers in direction
Define: magnetic dipole moment m
of current;
thumb points along 

As in the case of electric dipoles, magnetic dipoles tend to align

with the magnetic field.
 1 and 3 are “downhill”.
2 and 4 are “uphill”.
U1 = U4 > U2 = U3

t1 = t 2 = t 3 = t 4
τ is biggest when
B is at right
angles to μ