Question

(i) Show how Biot-Savart law can be alternatively expressed in the form of Ampere's circuital law. Use this law to obtain the expression for the magnetic field inside a solenoid of length 'l', cross-sectional area 'A' having 'N' closely wound turns and carrying a steady current 'I'. Draw the magnetic field lines of a finite solenoid carrying current I.

(ii) A straight horizontal conducting rod of length 0.45 m and mass 60 g is suspended by two vertical wires at its ends. A current of 5.0 A is set up in the rod through the wires. 

Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field which should be set up in order that the tension in the wire is zero.

Answer 1

 (i) A current carrying surface with small line elements of length dl where tangential components of magnetic field and sum of elements B.dl in an integral form be expressed as 

 This form is known as Ampere's circuital law

Let 'n' be the number of turns per unit length. Then total number of turns in the length 'h' is nh.

Hence, total enclosed current = nhl

Using Ampere's circuital law

As per the given figure, magnetic field must be vertically inwards, to make tension zero. If a student shows current in opposite direction the magnetic field should be set up vertically upwards.