MAGNETIC EFFECTS

To start this section we need to be a bit of

revision from IGCSE. If you already know the
work you do not need to recopy it but
otherwise make notes on it.
 Revision
A magnetic force can be created by
1. Permanent magnets
2. Electric currents
Both have north and south poles. (You cannot
have a magnet with only one pole. You
cannot go into a store and buy a south pole
magnet etc)
Both permanent magnets and electromagnets
create a magnetic field.
A magnetic field (like an electric field) is a field
of force
A magnetic field is defined as the area in which a
magnetic material will experience a force.
.
 Magnetic fields can be represented by magnetic
field lines.
Five things to note about magnetic field lines
1. The magnetic field lines come out of the
north pole and into the south pole
2. The direction of the field lines at any point so
the direction that the north pole of a magnet,
that is free to move, would point (think of
electric fields. The field lines point in the
direction a positive charge would move)
3. The field is strongest where the field lines are
closest together.
4. Equally spaced parallel lines indicate a
uniform field. (one that has the same
strength everywhere)
5. Field lines never cross.
The field lines around a bar magnet, two bar
magnets with like poles facing and two bar
magnets with unlike poles facing are shown
on Page 407. You should be able to draw
these. If you cannot remember draw them in
your notes now.
New work
N.B. Whenever a current flows a magnetic field
is created.
Wherever there is current flowing in your house,
even in the wire leading to your computer if
you are using one, there will be a magnetic
field. If you placed a plotting compass near it
you would probably see some deflection
although the field strength is quite small
A solenoid is a coil of wire. When a current
flows through it a magnetic field is created.
Outside the solenoid the field is identical to
that of a bar magnet.
Inside the solenoid there is a uniform magnetic
field
Whenever you try to find the direction of a
magnetic field use your right hand.
If you are a driver or have watched old films
remember it is your right hand that you use to
indicate direction you want to go.
So remember – right hand gives direction of
field
To find the direction of the magnetic field
created by a solenoid curl your fingers around
the solenoid in the direction the current is
flowing. (See Figure 26.5 a on page 408)
Stick your thumb out.
Your thumb will be pointing to the north pole of
the magnet
A long current carrying wire will create a circular
magnetic field around it.
To find the direction point the thumb of your
right hand along the wire in the direction of
the current and then curl your fingers. The
direction your fingers are curling is the
direction of the field. (Diagram 26.5 part b)
Please note when you are drawing a field
around a long straight wire that you must
draw circles than are further apart as you go
further from the wire as the field is getting
weaker so field lines must be further apart.
See diagram at top right hand corner of Page
408
Just a few points to note when drawing.
If you want to draw a current going into the
paper draw a circle with a cross in it
(Think of the tail feathers of an arrow)
If you want to draw a current coming out of the
paper draw a circle with a dot in the middle.
Think of the point of an arrow coming towards
you
Look at the field lines at the bottom part of
Figure 26.4 on Page 408. The circle showing
the current carrying wire does not have an
arrow on it, whereas the magnetic field lines
do. Point your right thumb into or out of the
paper, curl your fingers and see the direction
of the field.
If you want to draw a magnetic field going into
the field draw a series of crosses. Normally
you only have to draw a uniform field
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
X X X X X X
If you want to draw a magnetic field line coming
out of the paper draw a series of dots

. . . . .
. . . . .
. . . . .
There are no circles around the dots and crosses
in magnetic fields. The circles show the wire
carrying the current.
Draw (or make sure you know how to draw) the
flux patterns due to
- A long straight wire
- A flat circular coil
- A long solenoid
A current carrying wire creates a magnetic field.
Therefore it will experience a force if placed in
another magnetic field.
If it is free to move and we place it in a strong
magnetic field it will move
We can use this fact to define the new quantity
and unit we use for magnetism
Magnetic fields are measured using magnetic
flux and magnetic flux density
Magnetic flux density is given the symbol B and
is measured in teslas (T)
It is a vector and its direction is the tangent to
the field lines
The magnitude of B is high when the number of
field lines per unit area is high
A current carrying wire experiences a force in
a magnetic field.
The magnitude of this force is given by the equation
F = BIL sin θ
where B = magnetic flux density
I = current in wire
L = length of wire in the field
θ = angle between the wire and the
magnetic field (This formula is important. Learn it,
use it and inwardly digest it)
F = BiLsinθ

i
The direction of the force is found using
Fleming's left hand rule
 i
When you are finding the direction of a force
which causes motion think of driving force in a
motor car. Then remember when driving the
car you must keep on the left. So use left
hand when finding motion or force
Make your right hand into a pretend gun and
say
FBI
Your thumb points in the direction of the force F
Your first finger points in the direction of B
Your second finger points in the direction of I
There is a picture on Page 410- Figure 26.9 but
using MFC rather than FBI. I find FBI easier
but learn the one you find easier.
If the current is at right angles to the field then
θ = 900 , sin θ = 1 and
F= BIL
If the current is parallel to the field then
θ = 0, sin θ = 0
F=0
The equation you have to learn is F = BIL sin θ
If B and I are at right angles then you have
F = BIL
Rearranging gives
B=F
IL
This enables us to give a definition of magnetic
flux density
Magnetic flux density is the strength of the
magnetic field when there is a force F exerted
per unit length, per unit current when the
current is at right angles to the field.
One tesla is the magnitude of the magnetic flux
density when a force of 1 newton is exerted
on 1 metre of a wire carrying a current of 1
amp at right angles to the magnetic field.
A uniform magnetic field is created inside a
solenoid.
The magnetic flux density of a solenoid depends
on
- the number of turns per unit length
- the current in the wire
- (B = u0 nI) where n = number of turns per unit
length and u0 is the permeability of free
space)
A uniform magnetic field can also be created by
HELMHOLTZ COILS
These are identical coils that are connected in
series
so the same current is flowing through both of
them in the same direction.
They are placed so the distance between them is
equal to their radii.
The magnetic flux density is given by
B = k NI
r
where N = number of turns on each coil
r is the radius of each coil
I is the current through them
To change B you change I
A moving charge in a magnetic field will
experience a force
The force on a charge is given by the formula
F = Bqv sin θ
where B is the magnetic flux density
v is the velocity of the charge
θ is the angle between the v and B
The direction of the force can still be found by
Fleming's left hand rule and FBI
but remember
a positive charge moves in the same direction as
I
a negative charge moves in the opposite
direction to I
What is the direction of the force exerted on
each wire when you have two current carrying
wires placed close to each other
 F F F F

I I I I

F F F F
The force is proportional to the current in the
wires and inversely propotional to the
distance between them
Magnetic flux density can be measured using a
Hall probe
This must be placed so that it is at right angles to
the field. (Rotate until you get a maximum
reading)
A Hall probe consists of a thin wafer of
semiconducting material through which a
current I is flowing.
A voltmeter is placed across the wafer at right
angles to the current
Hall probe

+V -V
Consider a wafer of width d and thickness t with
current I flowing through it
Consider electrons moving with drift velocity v
in the wafer with a magnetic field B directed
at right angles into the wafer.
 current in

x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x
x x x x x x x
Electrons experience force of Bev to the right
Hall probe d

+ _
+ _
+ _
This distribution of charge creates a potential
difference V across the width d of the wafer.
An electric field of E = V is created
d
This exerts a force of eE = eV on the electrons
d
This force is in the opposite direction to the force
due to the magnetic field
The electrons continue to move and the
potential difference continues to increase
until the force due to the electric field is equal
to the force due to the magnetic field.
The potential difference that creates this electric
field is known as the Hall voltage VH
At the Hall voltage we have
Bev = eVH
d
so VH = Bvd
We know that the current I is given by
I = nAve
so v = I ,
nAe
Substituting into VH = Bvd we get
VH = BId
nAe
But A = dt
So VH = BId = BI
ndte net
(net is given for a Hall probe)
To remember
VH = BI
net
The Hall voltage VH is created across the wafer.
If the Hall probe is calibrated this voltage will be
read as magnetic flux density
Magnetic flux density can also be measured
using a current balance
This makes use of the principle of moments and
the fact that a force is exerted on a current in
a magnetic field.
A rectangular length of wire is balanced on a
knife edge

From above From side

A current is passed through the wire and one
end is placed in a magnetic field.
The field and current must be such that the
force on the wire is directed downwards,
• F = BIL and moment = BIL x Y

Y
Small pieces of paper are placed on the other
side of rectangle until the rectangle is
horizontal again
The mass of the paper is measured and force
due to mass = mg
The moment = mgZ
 Y Z

BiL mg
OBJECT GRAVITATION ELECTRIC MAGNETIC
AL FIELD FIELD FIELD
UNCHARGED Attraction Nil Nil
MASS (mg)
STATIONARY Attraction(mg) Attraction/ Nil
CHARGE Repulsion (Eq)
MOVING Attracted(mg) Attraction/ Force =
CHARGE Repulsion(Eq)) Bqv sinθ
(Flemings left
hand rule)
N.B. The field due to a solenoid is strengthened
and concentrated by the presence of a ferrous
core.