PYL101: Electromagnetics & Quantum

Mechanics
Magnetostatics and Magnetic Fields In Matter
Problem set 4

Exercise 1.

A particle of charge q enters a region of uniform magnetic field B (pointing

into the page). The field deflects the particle a distance d above the original
line of flight, as shown in the diagram above. Is the charge positive or negative?
In terms of a, d, B and q, find the momentum of the particle.

Exercise 2.
In 1897, J. J. Thomson “discovered” the electron by measuring the charge-to-
mass ratio of “cathode rays” (actually, streams of electrons, with charge q and
mass m) as follows:
• First he passed the beam through uniform crossed electric and magnetic
fields E and B (mutually perpendicular, and both of them perpendicular
to the beam), and adjusted the electric field until he got zero deflection.
What, then, was the speed of the particles (in terms of E and B)?

• Then he turned off the electric field, and measured the radius of curvature,
R, of the beam, as deflected by the magnetic field alone. In terms of E,
B, and R, what is the charge-to-mass ratio (q/m) of the particles?

Exercise 3.
Suppose that the magnetic field in some region has the form

B = kz x̂

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(where k is a constant). Find the force on a square loop (side a), lying in the yz
plane and centered at the origin, if it carries a current I, flowing counterclock-
wise, when you look down the x axis.

Exercise 4.
A current I flows down a wire of radius a.
• If it is uniformly distributed over the surface, what is the surface current
density K?
• If it is distributed in such a way that the volume current density is inversely
proportional to the distance s from the axis, what is J(s)?

Exercise 5.
• Find the magnetic field at the center of a square loop, which carries a
steady current I. Let R be the distance from center to side.
• Find the field at the center of a regular n-sided polygon, carrying a steady
current I . Again, let R be the distance from the center to any side.
• Check that your formula reduces to the field at the center of a circular
loop, in the limit n → ∞.

Exercise 6.

Find the magnetic field at point P on the axis of a tightly wound solenoid
(helical coil) consisting of n turns per unit length wrapped around a cylindrical
tube of radius a and carrying current I (see Fig.). Express your answer in terms
of θ1 and θ2 (it’s easiest that way). What is the field on the axis of an infinite
solenoid (infinite in both directions)?

Exercise 7.
A steady current I flows down a long cylindrical wire of radius a. Find the
magnetic field, both inside and outside the wire, if
• The current is uniformly distributed over the outside surface of the wire.
• The current is distributed in such a way that J is proportional to s, the
distance from the axis.

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Exercise 8.
A coaxial cable consists of two very long cylindrical tubes, separated by linear
insulating material of magnetic susceptibility χm . A current I flows down the
inner conductor and returns along the outer one; in each case, the current
distributes itself uniformly over the surface (see Fig.). Find the magnetic field
in the region between the tubes. As a check, calculate the magnetization and the
bound currents, and confirm that (together, of course, with the free currents)
they generate the correct field.

Exercise 9.

A familiar toy consists of donut-shaped permanent magnets (magnetization

parallel to the axis), which slide frictionlessly on a vertical rod (see Fig.). Treat
the magnets as dipoles, with mass md and dipole moment m.
(a) If you put two back-to-back magnets on the rod,the upper one will float—
the magnetic force upward balancing the gravitational force downward. At what
height (z) does it float?
(b) If you now add a third magnet (parallel to the bottom one), what is the
ratio of the two heights?