E 1 A wire placed along the north-south direction carries a current of 8 A from south to north.

Find the magnetic field due to a 1 cm piece of wire at a point 200 cm north-east from the
piece.
Solution. The problem is illustrated in Fig. 4.4.

Fig. 4.4
As the distance OP is much larger than the length of the wire, we can treat the wire as a
small current element.
Here I = 8 A dl = 1cm = 1 × 10−2 m,
γ = 200 cm = 2m, 𝜃 = 45o
𝜇0 𝐼𝑑𝑙sin𝜃
𝑑𝐵 = ,
4𝜋 𝑟2
4π × 10−7 8 × 1 × 10−2 × sin45o
= .
4π 22
= 1.4 × 10−9 T.

The direction of the magnetic field at point P is normally into the plane of paper.
Example 2. An element 𝛥𝑙⃗ = 𝛥𝑥𝑖̂ is placed at the origin and carries a large current I =10 A
What is the magnetic field on the y-axis at a distance of 0.5 m. 𝛥𝑥 =1 cm
[NCERT]
Solution. Here dl = 𝛥𝑥 -1 cm - 10-2m, I =10 A, r = y = 0.5 m, 𝜃=90°, μ0/4π = 10-7 Tm A-1

Fig. 4.5
According to Biot-Savart law,
𝜇0 𝐼𝑑𝑙sin𝜃
𝑑𝐵 =
4𝜋 𝑟 2
10−7 × 10 × 10−2 × sin90°
=
(0.5)2
= 4 × 10−8 T
 The direction of the field ⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ ⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑟⃗. But
𝑑𝐵 will be the direction of vector 𝑑𝑙
⃗⃗⃗⃗ × 𝑟⃗ = 𝛥𝑥𝑖̂ × 𝑦𝑗̂ = 𝛥𝑥𝑦(𝑖̂ × 𝑗̂) = 𝛥𝑥𝑦𝑘̂
𝑑𝑙
⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗⃗ is in the + z-direction.
Hence field 𝑑𝐵
Example 3. A current of 10 A is flowing east to west in a long wire kept horizontally in the
east-west direction. Find magnetic field in a horizontal plane at a distance of
(i) 10 cm north
(ii) 20 cm south from the wire; and in the vertical plane at a distance of
(iii) 40 cm downward and
(iv) 50 cm upward.
Solution, (i) Magnetic field in a horizontal plane at 10 cm north of the wire is
𝜇 𝐼 4𝜋×10−7×10
0
𝐵𝑁 = 2𝜋𝑟 = 2𝜋×0.10
= 2 × 10−5 T

According to right hand thumb rule, the direction of the magnetic field will be downward
in the vertical plane.
(ii) Magnetic field at 20 cm south of the wire is
4𝜋 × 10−7 × 10
𝐵𝑆 = = 1 × 10−5 T
2𝜋 × 0.20
The magnetic field will point upward in the vertical plane.
(iii) Magnetic field 40 cm just down the wire is
4𝜋×10−7×10
𝐵𝐷 = 2𝜋×0.40
= 5 × 10−6 T
The magnetic field will point south in a horizontal plane.
(iv) Magnetic field 50 cm just above the wire is
4𝜋 × 10−7 × 10
𝐵𝑈 = = 4 × 10−6 T
2𝜋 × 0.50
The magnetic field will point north in a horizontal plane.
Example 4. A long straight wire carrying a current of 30 A is placed in an external uniform
magnetic field of 4.0 × 10−4 𝑇 parallel to the current. Find the magnitude of the resultant
magnetic field at a point 2.0 cm away from the wire.
Solution. Here I =30 A, r =2.0 cm =2.0 × 10-2 m
Field due to straight current carrying wire is
𝜇0 𝐼 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 30
𝐵1 = = = 3.0 × 10−4 T
2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋 × 2.0 × 10−2
This field will act perpendicular to the external field B2 = 4.0× 10-4T. Hence the magnitude
of the resultant field is

𝐵 = √𝐵12 + 𝐵22 = √(3 × 10−4 )2 + (4.0 × 10−4 )2

= 5 × 10−4 T
Example 5. Figure 4.12 shows two current-carrying wires 1 and 2. Find the magnitudes and
directions of the magnetic field at points P, Q and R.
 Fig. 4.12
Solution, (i) According to right hand grip rule, the field B1 of wire 1 at point P will point
normally outward while the field B2 of wire 2 will point normally inward, hence
𝜇0 𝐼1 𝜇0 𝐼2
𝐵p = 𝐵1 − 𝐵2 = −
2𝜋𝑟1 2𝜋𝑟2
4𝜋 × 10−7 20 30
= [ − ]
2𝜋 0.10 0.30
= 2 × 10-5 T, pointing normally outward.
(ii) At point Q, both B1 and B2 will point normally inward,
4𝜋×10−7 20 30
∴𝐵𝑄 = 𝐵1 + 𝐵2 = 2𝜋
[
0.10
+ 0.10]

= 10-4 T, pointing normally inward.

(iii) At point R, B1 points normally inward and B2 points normally outward,
4𝜋 × 10−7 30 20
𝐵𝑅 = 𝐵2 − 𝐵1 = [ − ]
2𝜋 0.10 0.30
= 4.5 × 10-5 T, pointing normally outward.
Example 6. Two parallel wires P and Q placed at a separation of r=6cm carry electric
currents I1 =5 A and I2 =2 A in opposite directions as shown in Fig. 4.13. Find the point on
the line PQ where the resultant magnetic field is zero.

Fig. 4.13
Solution. At the required point, the resultant magnetic field will be zero when the fields
due to the two wires have equal magnitude and opposite directions. Such point should lie
either to the left of P or to the right of Q. But the wire Q has a smaller current, the point
should lie closer to and to the right of Q. Let this point be R at distance x from Q, as shown
in Fig. 4.13. Field due to current f at point R,
𝜇0 𝐼1
𝐵1 =
2𝜋(𝑟 + 𝑥)
normally into the plane of paper. Field due to current I2 at point R,
𝜇0 𝐼1
𝐵1 =
2𝜋 (𝑟 + 𝑥)
normally out of the plane of plane
But B1 = B2
 𝐼1 𝐼2
∴ =
𝑟+𝑥 𝑥
𝐼2 𝑟
Or 𝑥 = 𝐼
1 −𝐼2

2A × 6cm
= = 4cm
5A − 2A
Example 7. Use Biot-Savart law to obtain an expression for the magnetic field at the centre
of a coil bent in the form of a square of side 2a carrying current I.
Solution. Refer to Fig. 4.14. Magnetic field at O due to finite length of wire AB is
𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵1 = (sin𝛼 + sin𝛽)
4𝜋𝑎
𝜇0 𝐼 √2𝜇0 𝐼
= (sin45° + sin45° ) =
4𝜋𝑎 4𝜋𝑎

Fig. 4.14
The magnetic field at O due to conductors BC, CD and DA will also be of same
magnitude and direction. Therefore, resultant field at 0 is
4 × √2𝜇0 𝐼 √2𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵 = 4𝐵1 = =
4𝜋𝑎 𝜋𝑎
directed normally outwards.
Example 8. A current of 1.0 A is flowing in the sides of an equilateral triangle of side 4.5 ×
10-2 m. Find the magnetic field at the centroid of the triangle. [Roorkee 91]
Solution. The situation is shown in Fig. 4.15. The magnetic field at the centre O due to
the current through side PQ is given by
𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵1 = [sin𝜃1 + sin𝜃2 ]
4𝜋𝑎
where a is the distance of PQ from O and θ1, θ2 are the angles as shown. The magnetic field
due to each of the three sides is the same in magnitude and direction, therefore, total
magnetic field at O is
3𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵 = 3𝐵1 = [sin𝜃1 + sin𝜃2 ]
4𝜋𝑎

Fig. 4.15
 Here / =1.0 A, θ1 = θ2 =60°, 𝜇0 = 4𝜋 × 10−7 TmA−1
𝑃𝑆 𝑙 ⁄2
= tan𝜃1 or = tan60°
𝑂𝑆 𝑎
𝑙 4.5×10−2
∴𝑎 = 2tan60° = 2√3
m

3 × 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 1.0 × 2√3

𝐵= [sin60° + sin60° ]
4𝜋 × 4.5 × 10−2
6√3 × 10−5 √3 √3
= [ + ] = 4 × 10−5 T
4.5 2 2
directed normally outwards.
Example 9. Figure 4.16 shows a right-angled isosceles APQR having its base equal to a. A
current of I ampere is passing downwards along a thin straight wire cutting the plane of
paper normally as shown at Q. Likewise a similar wire carries an equal current passing
normally upwards at R. Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic induction B at P.
Assume the wires to be infinitely long.
[ISCE 97]

Fig. 4.16
Solution. Let PQ = QR = r. In right 𝛥𝑃𝑄𝑅,
𝑎
𝑎 2 = 𝑟 2 + 𝑟 2 = 2𝑟 2 or 𝑟=
√2
Magnetic induction at point P due to the conductor passing through Q
0𝜇 𝐼 √2𝜇0 𝐼 𝜇0𝐼
𝐵1 = 2𝜋𝑟 = 2𝜋𝑎
= acting along PR
√2𝜋𝑎

Magnetic induction at point P due to the conductor passing through R,

𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵2 = acting along PQ
√2𝜋𝑎

As the two fields at point P are acting along perpendicular directions, the resultant
magnetic induction at point P is

𝐵 = √𝐵12 + 𝐵22

𝜇0 𝐼 𝜇0 𝐼 2 𝜇0 𝐼
= √( )2 + ( ) = √2 ⋅
√2𝜋𝑎 √2𝜋𝑎 √2𝜋𝑎
𝜇0 𝐼
Or 𝐵 = 𝜋𝑎

This field acts towards the midpoint of QR.

Problems for Practice
1. A straight wire carries a current of 3 A. Calculate the magnitude of the magnetic field at a
point 10 cm away from the wire. [CBSE D 96]
 (Ans. 6 × 10-6 T)
2. At what distance from a long straight wire carrying a current of 12 A will the magnetic
field be equal to 3 × 10-5 Wb m-2. (Ans. 8 × 10-2 m)
3. The magnetic induction at a point P which is at a distance of 4 cm from a long current
carrying wire is 10-3 T. What is the magnetic induction at another point Q which is at a
distance of 12 cm from this current carrying wire? (Ans. 3.33 ×10-4 T)
4. What current must flow in an infinitely long straight wire to give a flux density of 3 × 10 -5 T
at 6 cm from the wire? (Ans. 9 A)
5. A vertical wire in which a current is flowing produces a neutral point with the earth's
magnetic field at a distance of 10 cm from the wire. What is the current if BH = 1.8 × 10-4
T? (Ans. 90 A)
6. Fig. 4.17 shows two long, straight wires carrying electric currents of 10 A each in
opposite directions. The separation between the wires is 5.0 cm. Find the magnetic field
at a point P midway between the wires.
(Ans. 1.6 ×10-6 T)

7. Two long parallel wires are placed at a distance of 16 cm from each other in air. Each
wire has a current of 4 A. Calculate the magnetic field at midpoint between them when
the currents in them are (i) in the same direction and (ii) in opposite directions.
[Ans. (i) Zero (ii) 2 × 10-5 T]
8. Two infinitely long insulated wires are kept perpendicular to each other. They carry
currents I1 = 2 A and I2 = 1.5 A. (i) Find the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field
at P. (ii) If the direction of current is reversed in one of the wires, what would be the
magnitude of the field B ?
[Ans. (I) 2 × 10 5 T, normally into the plane of paper (ii) zero]

9. A long straight wire carrying a current of 200 A, runs through a cubical box, entering and
leaving through holes in the centres of opposite faces, as shown in Fig. 4.19. Each side
of the box is of 20 cm.
 Fig. 4.19
Consider an element PQ of the wire 1 cm long at the centre of the box. Calculate the
magnetic field produced by this element at the points A, B, C and D. The points A, B and C
are the centres of the faces of the cube and D is the midpoint of one edge.
(Ans. 20 × 10-6 T, 20 × 10-6 T, 0, 7.07 × 10-6 T)
10. A long straight telephone cable contains six wires, each carrying a current of 0.5 A. The
distance between the wires is negligible. What is the magnitude of magnetic field at a
distance of 10 cm from the cable (i) if the currents in all the six wires are in same
direction (ii) if four wires carry current in one direction and the other two in opposite
direction. [Ans. (i) 6.0 × 10-6 T, (ii) 2.0 × 10 -6 T]
11. Calculate the magnetic induction at the centre of a coil bent in the form of a square of
side 10 cm carrying a current of 10 A. [Punjab 01]
(Ans. 1.13 × 10-4 T)
12. A closed circuit is in the form of a regular hexagon of side a. If the circuit carries current
I, what is magnetic induction at the centre of the hexagon?
[IPUEE 13]
√3𝜇0 𝐼
( Ans. 𝐵 = )
𝜋𝑎
13. Two straight long conductors AOB and COD are perpendicular to each other and carry
currents I1 and I2 respectively. Find the magnitude of the magnetic field at a point P at a
distance a from the point O in a direction perpendicular to the plane ABCD.
𝜇0 2
( Ans. (𝐼 + 𝐼22 )1⁄2 )
2𝜋𝑎 1
14. Two insulating infinitely long conductors carrying currents I2 and I2 lie mutually
perpendicular to each other in the same plane, as shown in Fig. 4.20. Find the magnetic
field at the point P (a, b).
𝜇0 𝐼 𝐼
Ans. ( Ans. 2𝜋
( 2 − 1 ) , directed inward )
𝑏 𝑎

Fig. 4.20
HINTS
𝜇 𝐼 4𝜋×10−7 ×3
0
1. 𝐵 = 2𝜋𝑟 = 2𝜋×0.10
= 6.0 × 10−6 T
 𝜇 𝐼 4𝜋×10−7×12
0
2. 𝑟 = 2𝜋𝐵 = 2𝜋×3×10−5
= 8 × 10−2 m
3. Magnetic field due to a straight current carrying conductor,
𝜇0 𝐼 1
𝐵= i.e., 𝐵∝
2𝜋𝑟 𝑟
𝐵𝑄 𝑟𝑃
∴ =
𝐵𝑃 𝑟𝑄
𝑟 4
Or 𝐵𝑄 = 𝑟𝑃 ⋅ 𝐵𝑃 = 12 × 10−3 = 3.33 × 10−4 T
𝑄

2𝜋𝑟𝐵 2𝜋×6×10−2 ×3×10−5

4. 𝐼 = 𝜇0
= 4𝜋×10−7
= 9A

5. If neutral point is obtained at distance r from the wire, then

𝜇0 𝐼
= 𝐵𝐻
2𝜋𝑟
2𝜋𝑟𝐵𝐻 2𝜋×0.10×1.8×10−4
or 𝐼 = 𝜇0
= 4𝜋×10−7
= 90A

6. According to right hand thumb rule, the direction of magnetic field due to current in each
wire is perpendicular to and pointing into the plane of paper. Hence total field at point P
is
𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵 =2×
2𝜋𝑥
−7
2 × 4𝜋 × 10 × 10
= = 1.6 × 10−6 T
2𝜋 × 2.5 × 10−2
5
[𝑟 = cm = 2.5 × 10−2 m]
2
7. (i) When the currents are in same direction,
𝐵 = 𝐵1 − 𝐵2
(ii) When the currents are in opposite directions,
𝐵 = 𝐵1 + 𝐵2
𝜇 𝐼 4𝜋×10−7 ×2
8.
0 1
𝐵1 = 2𝜋𝑟 = 2𝜋×4×10−2 = 10−5 T𝑟
1

normally into the plane of paper.

𝜇0 𝐼2 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 1.5
𝐵2 = = = 10−5 T
2𝜋𝑟2 2𝜋 × 3 × 10−2
normally into the plane of paper
𝐵 = 𝐵1 + 𝐵2 = 2 × 10−5 𝑇
normally into the plane of paper. (iI) When current in any one wire is reversed, the two
fields will be in opposite directions, so that B=zero.
9. Here I = 200 A, PQ = dl = 1 cm = 0.01 m
For point A or B, r = 10 cm = 0.1 m, θ = 90°, therefore
𝜇0 𝐼𝑑𝑙SIN𝜃
𝐵𝐴 = 𝐵𝐵 =
4𝜋 𝑟 2
 10−7 × 200 × 0.01 × sin90°
= = 20 × 10−6 T
(0.1)2
For point C, θ = 0°, therefore
𝜇0 𝐼𝑑𝑙sin0°
𝐵𝐶 = ⋅ =0
4𝜋 𝑟2
𝑟 = √102 + 102 = 10√2cm = 0.1√2m, 𝜃 = 45°
𝜇0 𝐼𝑑𝑙sin45° 10−2 × 200 × 0.01 × 1
𝐵𝐷 = ⋅ =
4𝜋 𝑟2 (0.1√2)2 × √2
= 7.07 ×10-6 T.
10. (i) Net current, I = 0.5 × 6 = 3.0 A, r = 10 cm = 0.1 m
𝜇0 𝐼 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 3.0
𝐵= = = 6.0 × 10−6 T
2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋 × 0.1
(ii) Net current, I = 0.5 × 4 - 0.5 × 2 = 1.0 A
𝜇0 𝐼 4𝜋 × 10−7 × 1.0
𝐵= = = 2.0 × 10−6 T
2𝜋𝑟 2𝜋 × 0.1
11. Refer to Fig. 4.21. Magnetic field at O due to finite wire AB,

Fig. 4.21
𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵1 = (sin𝛼 + sin𝛽)
4𝜋𝑎
4𝜋 × 10−7 × 10
= (sin45° + sin45° )
4𝜋 × 0.05
= 2.83 ×10-5T
Total magnetic induction at Q
𝐵 = 4𝐵1 = 4 × 2.83 × 10−5 = 1.13 × 10−4 T
directed normally outward.
𝑎2 √3𝑎
12. 𝑂𝑁 = 𝑎′ = √𝑎 2 − 4
= 2
 Fig. 4.22
Magnetic field at O due to current in AB is
𝜇0 𝐼
𝐵1 = [sin𝛼 + sin𝛽]
4𝜋𝑎 ′
𝜇0 𝐼 𝜇0 𝐼
= [sin30° + sin30° ] =
4𝜋√3𝑎/2 2𝜋√3𝑎
√3𝜇0 𝐼
Total field at 𝑂 = 6𝐵1 = 𝜋𝑎

13. Magnetic field at P due to current in wire AOB,

𝜇0 𝐿1
𝐵1 =
2𝜋𝑎
Magnetic field at P due to current in wire COD,
𝜇0 𝐼2
𝐵2 =
2𝜋𝑎
As the two conductors are perpendicular to each other, so B1 and B2 will also be
perpendicular to each other. Hence the resultant magnetic field at P is
𝜇0 𝐿1 2 𝜇0 𝐼2 2 1⁄2
𝐵 = √𝐵12 + 𝐵22 = [( ) +( ) ]
2𝜋𝑎 2𝜋𝑎
𝜇0 2
= (𝐼 + 𝐼22 )1⁄2
2𝜋𝑎 1
14. Magnetic field at point Pdue to current I1 ,
𝜇0 𝐼1
𝐵1 = 2𝜋𝑎
, directed normally inward

Magnetic field at point P due to current I2,

𝜇0 𝐼2
𝐵2 = 2𝜋𝑏
directed normally outward

As 𝑏 < 𝑎, so 𝐵2 > 𝐵1
Hence the net magnetic field at the point P,
𝜇0 𝐼2 𝐼1
𝐵 = 𝐵2 − 𝐵1 = ( − )
2𝜋 𝑏 𝑎
directed normally inward.