EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

Chapter 4: Static Magnetic Fields

When the test charge is in motion in a magnetic field characterized by a magnetic flux density
B, experiments show that charge q also experiences a magnetic force Fm given by,

𝑭𝑭𝒎𝒎 = q𝐮𝐮 × 𝐁𝐁

Where u (m/s) is the velocity of the moving charge, and B is measured in webers per square
meter or teslas.

4.1 Fundamental Postulates of Magnetostatics in Free Space

To study magnetostatics in free space or in nonmagnetic material, we need only consider the
magnetic flux density vector, B. The two fundamental postulates of magnetostatic in
nonmagnetic media specify the divergence and the curl of B. They are

∇ ∙ 𝐁𝐁 = 0

and

∇ × 𝐁𝐁 = 𝜇𝜇0 𝐽𝐽

Taking the volume integral of both sides of the divergence equation.

� 𝐁𝐁 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 0
𝑆𝑆

An integral form can also be obtained for curl relation by integrating ∇ × 𝐁𝐁 over an open
surface and invoking Stokes’s theorem. We have

� 𝐁𝐁 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝜇𝜇0 𝐼𝐼
𝐶𝐶

The above equation is an expression of Ampere’s law, which states the circulation of the
magnetic flux density in a nonmagnetic medium around any closed path is equal to 𝜇𝜇0 times
the total current flowing through the surface bonded by the path.
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

4.2 Vector Magnetic Potential

The divergence free postulate of B, ∇ ∙ 𝐁𝐁, assures that B is solenoidal. Therefore, B can be
expressed as the curl of another vector field, say A, such that

𝐁𝐁 = ∇ × 𝐀𝐀

∇ × 𝐁𝐁 = ∇ × (∇ × 𝐀𝐀) = ∇(∇ ∙ 𝐀𝐀) − ∇𝟐𝟐 𝐀𝐀 = 𝜇𝜇0 𝐽𝐽

With the purpose of simplifying, we choose

∇ ∙ 𝐀𝐀 = 0

Then

∇𝟐𝟐 𝐀𝐀 = −𝜇𝜇0 𝐽𝐽

Has a particular solution,

𝜇𝜇0 𝑱𝑱
𝐀𝐀 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑′
4𝜋𝜋 𝑉𝑉′ 𝑅𝑅

Vector potential A relates to the magnetic flux 𝛟𝛟 through a given area S that is bounded by
contour C in a simple way:

𝛟𝛟 = � 𝑩𝑩 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝒔𝒔 = � (∇ × 𝐀𝐀) ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝒔𝒔 = � 𝑨𝑨 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑

𝑺𝑺 𝑺𝑺 𝑪𝑪
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

4.3 The Biot-Savart Law

For a thin wire with cross sectional area S, dv` equals S dl`, and the current flow is entirely
along the wire. We have

𝑱𝑱𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑` = 𝐽𝐽𝐽𝐽𝐽𝐽𝒍𝒍` = 𝐼𝐼𝐼𝐼𝒍𝒍`

𝜇𝜇0 𝐼𝐼 1
𝐀𝐀 = � 𝑑𝑑𝒍𝒍 ′
4𝜋𝜋 𝐶𝐶′ 𝑅𝑅

The magnetic flux density can be expressed

𝜇𝜇0 𝐼𝐼 1 𝜇𝜇0 𝐼𝐼 𝑑𝑑𝒍𝒍′

𝐁𝐁 = ∇ × � � 𝑑𝑑𝒍𝒍 ′� = � ∇×� �
4𝜋𝜋 𝐶𝐶′ 𝑅𝑅 4𝜋𝜋 𝐶𝐶′ 𝑅𝑅

Example 1

A direct current I flows in a straight wire of length 2L. Find the magnetic flux density B at a
point located at a distance r from the wire in the bisecting plane: (a) by determining the
vector magnetic potential A first and (b) by applying Biot-Savart law.

R
I

2L

r P(r,0,0)
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

\
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

Example 2

Find the magnetic flux density at the center of a planar square loop, with side w carrying a
direct current I.
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

Example 3

Find the magnetic flux density

a) at the center of a circular loop of radius 5cm carrying a direct current 2A.
b) At the center of a semi-circular loop of radius 8 cm carrying a direct current 4A.
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

4.4 Magnetization and Equivalent Current Densities

To obtain a formula for determining the quantitative change in the magnetic flux density
caused by the presence of a magnetic material, we let mk be the magnetic dipole moment of
an atom. If there are n atoms per unit volume, we define a magnetization vector, M as

∑𝑛𝑛∆𝑣𝑣
𝑘𝑘=1 𝒎𝒎𝒌𝒌
𝐌𝐌 = lim
∆𝑣𝑣→0 ∆𝑣𝑣

Vector magnetic potential can be written

𝜇𝜇0 𝑴𝑴 × 𝒂𝒂𝑹𝑹
d𝐀𝐀 = 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑′
4𝜋𝜋 𝑅𝑅 2

The magnetization surface current density

𝑱𝑱𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 = 𝑴𝑴 × 𝒂𝒂𝑹𝑹

The magnetization volume current density

𝑱𝑱𝒎𝒎𝒎𝒎 = ∇ × 𝑴𝑴

Example 4

A cylindrical magnet of radius 5cm and length 12 cm has an axial magnetization

𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 130 𝐴𝐴/𝑐𝑐𝑚𝑚. Find B at

a) The center of the top face

b) The center of the bottom face, and
c) The center of the magnet.
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

4.5 Magnetic Field Intensity and Permeability

Because the application of an external magnetic field causes both an alignment of the internal
dipole moments and an induced magnetic moment in a magnetic material, we expect that the
resultant magnetic flux density in the presence of a magnetic material will be different from
its value in free space. The magnetic field intensity H,

𝑩𝑩
𝑯𝑯 = − 𝑴𝑴
𝜇𝜇0

∇ × 𝑯𝑯 = 𝑱𝑱

According to Stokes theorem,

� 𝐇𝐇 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = I → 𝐌𝐌 = 𝜒𝜒𝑚𝑚 𝑯𝑯 → 𝑩𝑩 = 𝜇𝜇𝑯𝑯

𝐶𝐶

Them

𝜇𝜇 = 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 𝜇𝜇𝑟𝑟 = 𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜 (1 + 𝜒𝜒𝑚𝑚 )

Example 5

Region 0 ≤ 𝑧𝑧 ≤ 2𝑚𝑚 is occupied by an infinite slab of permeable material 𝜇𝜇𝑟𝑟 = 2.5. If 𝐵𝐵 =

10𝑦𝑦 𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 − 5𝑥𝑥 𝑎𝑎𝑦𝑦 mWb /m2 within the slab, determine: (a) J, (b) M.
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

4.6 Boundary Conditions for Magnetic Fields

Figure 1:Boundary condition between two media.

In order to solve problems concerning magnetic fields in regions having media with different
physical properties, it is necessary to study the conditions (boundary conditions) that B and H
vectors must satisfy at the interfaces of different media. From divergenceless nature of the B
field,

𝐵𝐵1𝑛𝑛 = 𝐵𝐵2𝑛𝑛 → 𝜇𝜇1 𝐻𝐻1𝑛𝑛 = 𝜇𝜇2 𝐻𝐻2𝑛𝑛

The tangential component of magnetic field is not continuous if there is a surface current
along the interface. Applying Stokes’s theorem

� 𝐻𝐻 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = 𝐼𝐼 =→ 𝐻𝐻1 − 𝐻𝐻2 == 𝐽𝐽

Example 6

Given that 𝑯𝑯𝟏𝟏 = −2𝑎𝑎𝑥𝑥 + 6𝑎𝑎𝑦𝑦 + 4𝑎𝑎𝑧𝑧 A/m in region 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥 − 2 ≤ 0, where 𝜇𝜇1 = 5𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜
calculate(a) M1 and B1 (b) H2 and B2 in region 𝑦𝑦 − 𝑥𝑥 − 2 ≤ 0, where 𝜇𝜇2 = 2𝜇𝜇𝑜𝑜
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022

4.7 Inductances and Inductors

From Biot-savart law, we see that B is directly proportional to I, hence ϕ is proportional to I.
we write

ϕ=LI

where the proportional constant L is called the mutual inductance between loops C1 and C2.
In case C2 has N2 turn, the flux linkage due ϕ12 is

Λ12 = 𝑁𝑁2 ϕ12

Λ12 𝑁𝑁2
L12 = = � 𝐵𝐵 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑2
𝐼𝐼1 𝐼𝐼1 𝑆𝑆2 1

The self-inductance of loop C1 is defined as the magnetic flux linkage per unit current in loop
itself,

Λ11 𝑁𝑁1
L11 = = � 𝐵𝐵 ∙ 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑1
𝐼𝐼1 𝐼𝐼1 𝑆𝑆2 1

4.7 Magnetic Energy

The formula for magnetic energy can be written as,

1 1 𝐵𝐵 2
𝑊𝑊𝑚𝑚 = � 𝑯𝑯 ∙ 𝑩𝑩𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑 = � 𝑑𝑑𝑑𝑑
2 𝑉𝑉′ 2 𝑉𝑉′ 𝜇𝜇

Example 7

Express the stored magnetic energy in terms of flux linkage ϕ and current I in an inductor
having an inductance L.
EE212 Chapter 4 Fall 2021/2022