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Unit 2: Module 1
5 Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field is a region in which a particle with magnetic properties experiences a
force and in which a moving charge experiences a force.
Objective 5.1: Explain ‘magnetic flux density’ and the ‘tesla’;
Magnetic flux density is also called magnetic field strength and is often given the
symbol ‘B’
This is defined as the force acting per unit current in a wire of unit length,
which is perpendicular to the field.
Magnetic field strength is measured in tesla, T
A magnetic field has the strength of 1T if a wire of length 1 meter experiences a
force of 1N when a current of 1A flows in the wire.
The tesla is the standard unit of magnetic flux density or magnetic field strength. In SI
units, it is equal to kilogram per second squared, Amperes (kgs-2A)
Points to note:
1. The magnetic fields are represented with lines called lines of flux.
2. The arrow shows the direction of the force that the north pole would feel.
3. The field direction always goes from North to South. (If we put a random magnet
at point X on the diagram, its North pole would align along the arrow)
4. The spacing between the lines of flux tells you about the strength of field - as
the lines gets closer together, the field becomes stronger.
For the diagram above, the region in between the poles shows lines which are evenly
spaced and parallel, this is called a uniformed field. The field strength is constant
within this area.
Objective 5.2: Sketch magnetic flux patterns due to a long straight wire, a flat
circular coil and a long solenoid;
Around any conductor that has a current flowing through it there is a magnetic field.
If the current is switch off, the magnetic field disappears.
The diagrams above show a wire through which there is a conventional flow of current.
On the left, the current is flowing in a direction away from you (into the page) – this is
represented with an ‘x’ in the center of the wire.
While the diagram on the right shows the current flowing towards you (out of the page)
In both cases, the lines get further apart as you move away from the wire, this is
because the magnetic field is getting weaker.
In order to remember which way the field goes, (clockwise or anticlockwise), imagine
that you are screwing a corkscrew into or out of the page in the same direction as the
conventional current, the turning motion of the corkscrew is in the same direction as
the field arrows.
The corkscrew rule can be used again to determine the direction of the magnetic field.
In a long solenoid:
If the wire becomes coiled (forming a solenoid) we can also work out the shape of the
field. We can apply the corkscrew rule to different sections of the coil.
We can realize that if we look at a long coil of wire, the field shape will look like the one
shown below:
There is a uniform field inside the center of the coil, outside the field is the same as
the field around a bar magnet.
The right hand grip rule can also be used to determine the direction of the magnetic
field.
Your fingers point in the same direction as the conventional current around the coil –
your thumb points towards the North pole.
Objective 5.3: Use the expressions for the magnetic flux density of a distance r from a
long straight wire, the centre of a flat circular coil and near the centre of a long
solenoid
The magnetic flux density (B) is directly proportional to the current and inversely
proportional to the distance r.
B = constant × I/r
µ𝐼
Therefore, B=
2𝜋𝑟
I = current (A)
When a wire is bent into a loop (a circular coil), the magnetic field is concentrated in
the center.
The equation for the magnetic flux density at the centre of the coil:
µ0 𝑁𝐼
B=
2𝑟
B= µ0 𝑛𝐼
I = current through the coil