Ampere’s Law

Definition: What is Ampere’s Law?

Ampere’s law, or Ampere’s circuital law, is a mathematical

statement used in electromagnetism that gives a relationship
between a current and the magnetic field it generates. The
magnetic field produced by an electric current is proportional to
the magnitude of the current with a proportionality constant
equal to the permeability of free space (μo), a universal constant
in physics. Its value is 4π X 10-7 H/m. In its discrete form,
Ampere’s law states that for any closed path (Amperian loop),
the sum of the length elements times the magnetic field in the
direction of the length element is equal to the permeability times
the electric current enclosed in the loop. Ampere’s law can be
expressed in both integral and differential forms. The integral
form is generally used to determine the magnetic field. This
magnetic field, if derived from Biot-Savart law, will yield the
same result.
 Derivation of Ampere’s Law
The Biot-Savart’s Law can be utilized to calculate the magnetic
field due to a current-carrying wire, from which Ampere’s law
can be derived.
 Determining Magnetic Fields from Ampere’s Law
The integral form of Ampere’s law is used to determine the
magnetic field since it can be integrated over in space. Hence, it
is used to find the fields generated by devices like a long straight
conducting wire, coaxial cable, cylindrical conductor, solenoid,
and toroid. Usually, the right-hand thumb rule is applied to find
the direction of the magnetic field
.