Chapter 8

Magnetic Forces, Materials

and Inductance

The magnetic field B is defined from the Lorentz Force Law, and specifically
from the magnetic force on a moving charge:
F = qv x B
1. The force is perpendicular to both the velocity v of the charge q and the
magnetic field B.
2. The magnitude of the force is F = qvB sin where is the angle < 180 degrees
between the velocity and the magnetic field. This implies that the magnetic force
on a stationary charge or a charge moving parallel to the magnetic field is zero.
3. The direction of the force is given by the right hand rule. The force
relationship above is in the form of a vector product.
From the force relationship above it can be deduced that the units of magnetic
field are Newton seconds /(Coulomb meter) or Newton per Ampere meter. This
unit is named the Tesla. It is a large unit, and the smaller unit Gauss is used for
small fields like the Earth's magnetic field. A Tesla is 10,000 Gauss. The Earth's
magnetic field is on the order of half a Gauss.

8.1 Force On A Moving Charge

Lorentz Force Law
Both the electric field and magnetic field can be defined from the
Lorentz force law:

The electric force is straightforward, being in the direction of the electric

field if the charge q is positive, but the direction of the magnetic part of the
force is given by the right hand rule.

8.2 Force On A Moving Charge

8.3 Force on a Differential Current

dF = dQv x B

v v

dF

J Bdv

dF

v dv v B

dF

J Bdv

Jdv
dF

dF

KdS

dQ

J B dv
vol

IdL

K BdS

IdL B

v dv

K B dS

I dL B

IL B

B_x_ d L

Example 8.1
3

Fy1 2 10

3
1

3 10

x
1

d x

Fx1 2 10

3 10

3
0

I
2 x

az

Fx2 2 10

o H

3 10

d y 1

F Fx1 Fx2 Fy1 Fy2

Bx d L

Fx1 4 10

az a x

Fy2 6.592 10

az a y

Fx2 1.2 10

az a y

1
3
6
Fy2 2 10 3 10
dx
x
3

Fy1 6.592 10

az a x

1 d y 1

F 8 10

The net force on the loop is in the -ax direction

Force Between Differential Current Elements

Example 8.2

The magnetic field at point 2 due to a current element at point 1 was

found to be

Now, the differential force on a differential current element is

Example

8.4 Force And Torque On A Closed Circuit

a) given a meter arm R extending from an origin O

to a point P where force F is applied, the torque
about O is T = RxF
b) if F2 = -F1, then the torque T=R21 x F1 is
independent of the choice of origin for R1 and R2

B_x_ d L

IB

R F

1 dL

Force And Torque On A Closed Circuit

dT

IdS B

Magnetic Dipole Moment dm

A differential current loop in a magnetic

field B. The torque is dT=I(dxdy az)x Bo =
IdS x B.
The total force on the loop is therefore 0,
and we are free to choose the origin for the
torque at the center loop

dm

IdS

dT

dm B

IS B

m B

Force And Torque On A Closed Circuit

DC Motor - Illustration

Example 8.3

A rectangular loop is located in a

uniform magnetic flux density Bo

8.5 The Nature of Magnetic Materials

Magnetic Materials
Magnetic Materials may be classified as diamagnetic, paramagnetic, or ferromagnetic on
the basis of their susceptibilities. Diamagnetic materials, such as bismuth, when placed in an external
magnetic field, partly expel the external field from within themselves and, if shaped like a rod, line up
at right angles to a non-uniform magnetic field. Diamagnetic materials are characterized by constant,
small negative susceptibilities, only slightly affected by changes in temperature.
Paramagnetic materials, such as platinum, increase a magnetic field in which they are
placed because their atoms have small magnetic dipole moments that partly line up with the external
field. Paramagnetic materials have constant, small positive susceptibilities, less than 1/1,000 at room
temperature, which means that the enhancement of the magnetic field caused by the alignment of
magnetic dipoles is relatively small compared with the applied field. Paramagnetic susceptibility is
inversely proportional to the value of the absolute temperature. Temperature increases cause greater
thermal vibration of atoms, which interferes with alignment of magnetic dipoles.
Ferromagnetic materials, such as iron and cobalt, do not have constant susceptibilities; the
magnetization is not usually proportional to the applied field strength. Measured ferromagnetic
susceptibilities have relatively large positive values, sometimes in excess of 1,000. Thus, within
ferromagnetic materials, the magnetization may be more than 1,000 times larger than the external
magnetizing field, because such materials are composed of highly magnetized clusters of atomic
magnets (ferromagnetic domains) that are more easily lined up by the external field.

Characteristics of Magnetic Materials

Magnetization and Permeability

Magnetization and Permeability

Where
And I is the total free current
enclosed path.
Current enclosed

Define H in terms of B and M

Where

A section dL of a closed path along which magnetic dipoles have

been partially aligned by some external magnetic field. The
alignment has caused the bound current crossing thesurface defined
by the closed path to increase by nlbds.dLA

Example

Magnetization and Permeability sample representation

An orbiting electron is
shown having a magnetic
moment m in the same
direction as an applied Bo

Magnetic Boundary Conditions

A gaussian surface and a closed path

are constructed at the boundary
between media 1 and 2, having
permeabilities of 1 and 2,
respectively. From this we determine
the boundary conditions BN1 = BN2
and Ht1 Ht2 = K, the component of
the surface current density directed
into the page.

Thus

Example

The Magnetic Circuit

In this section we shall digress briefly to

discuss the fundamental techniques involved
in solving a class of magnetic problems
known as magnetic circuits. The name arises
from the great similarity to the dc resistivecircuit analysis with which it is assumed we
are all facile. The only difference lies in the
nonlinear nature of the ferromagnetic
portions of the magnetic circuit; the methods
which must be adopted are similar to those
required in nonlinear electric circuits which
contain diodes, thermistors, incandescent
filaments, and other nonlinear elements.

In an electric circuit the voltage source is a part of the closed path; in the magnetic circuit the
current-carrying coil will surround or link the magnetic circuit.

For example

The Magnetic Circuit

Magnetic circuit is made up of one or more closed loop paths containing a magnetic flux. The flux is usually generated by
permanent magnets or electromagnets and confined to the path by magnetic cores consisting of ferromagnetic materials
like iron, although there may be air gaps or other materials in the path.

Example

Sources:
Engineering Electromagnetics, Hayt, 8th ed.