Lecture 9

Vector Magnetic Potential

Biot Savart Law
Prof. Viviana Vladutescu
Figure 1: The magnetic (H-field)
streamlines inside and outside a
single thick wire.
Figure 2: The H-field magnitude
inside and outside the thick wire
with uniform current density
Figure 3: The H-field magnitude
inside and outside the thick
conductors of a coaxial line.
( ) 0
0
= V - V
= - V
A
B
) ( T A B V =
A - vector magnetic potential (Wb/m)
Vector Magnetic Potential
Figure 1: The vector potential in
the cross-section of a wire with
uniform current distribution.
Figure 2: Comparison between the magnetic vector potential
component of a wire with uniformly distributed current and the
electric potential V of the equivalent cylinder with uniformly
distributed charge.
J A A
A A A A A
J A
0
2
2
0
) (

) ( ) ( ) (

= V - V V
V - V V = V - V - V V = V V
= V V
J A A
0
2
0 = V = - V
Vector Poissons equation
Laplacian Operator (Divergence of a gradient)

Poissons Equation
In electrostatics
E D
V E
E
D
c

=
V =
= V
= - V
0
( )
c

c
= V - V
= - V = - V
V
E E
c

= V V
2
Poissons Equation
in electrostatics

4
4
1
0
0
2
0 0
2
dv
R
J
A J A
dv
R
V V
v
v
}
}
= = V
= = V
t

tc c

Magnetic Flux
(Wb) ) (

} }
}
- = - V = u
- = u
c s
s
l d A ds A
ds B
The line integral of the vector magnetic potential A around
any closed path equals the total magnetic flux passing
through area enclosed by the path
Biot Savart Law and
Applications
The Biot-Savart Law relates magnetic fields to the currents
which are their sources. In a similar manner, Coulombs Law
relates electric fields to the point charges which are their
sources. Finding the magnetic field resulting from a current
distribution involves the vector product, and is inherently a
calculus problem when the distance from the current to the
field point is continuously changing.
) ( T A B V =

4
0
}
=
c
R
l d I
A
t

4
0
}
|
|
.
|

\
|
V =
c
R
l d I
B
t

( ) ( ) G f G f G f V + V = V

1 1
4
0
}
(

|
.
|

\
|
V + V =
c
l d
R
l d
R
I
B
t

2
1 1
R
a
R
R
=
|
.
|

\
|
V
By using
(T)
4
2
0
}

=
c
R
R
a l d I
B
t

(see eq 6.31)
Biot-Savart Law
|
|
.
|

\
|

=
=
}
2
0
4

R
a l d I
B d
B d B
R
c
t

In two steps
Illustration of the law of BiotSavart showing
magnetic field arising from a differential segment of
current.
2
12
12 1 1
2
4 R
a L d I
H d
t

=
r z R
a r a z a R + =
Example1
Component values for the equation to find the
magnetic field intensity resulting from an infinite
length line of current on the z-axis. (ex 6-4)
r
a I
H
r z r
z
a Ir
r z
dz
a Ir
r z
a r a z a Idz
H
r z z
t t
t
t
| |
|
2 4


) (
4
) ( 4
) (
2 2 2
2
3
2 2
2
3
2 2
=
(

+
=
+
=
+
+
=

} }
Example 2
We want to find H at height h above
a ring of current centered in the x
y plane.
The component values shown for use in the BiotSavart
equation.
}
= +

=
t
|
|
t
|
2
0
2
3
2 2
) ( 4
) (
a h
a a a h a Iad
H
r
z
The radial components of H cancel
by symmetry.
( )
( )
2
3
2 2
2
2
0
2
3
2 2
2
2

4
a h
a Ia
H
d
a h
a Ia
H
z
z
+
=
+
=
}
t
|
t
Solenoid
Many turns of insulated wire coiled in the shape of a cylinder.
For a set N number of loops around a ferrite
core, the flux generated is the same even when
the loops are bunched together.
Example : A simple toroid wrapped with N turns modeled
by a magnetic circuit. Determine B inside the closely wound
toroidal coil.
b
a
) ( ) ( ,
2
2
0
0
a b r a b
r
NI
a a B B
NI rB l d B
+ < < = =
= = -
}
t

t
| | |
|
Amperes Law
a) An iron bar attached to an electromagnet.
b) The bar displaced by a differential length d.
Electromagnets
Levitated trains: Maglev prototype
Electromagnet supporting a
bar of mass m.
Applications
Wilhelm Weber (1804-1891). Electromagnetism.