Biot-Savart Law

Magnetic field from a circular wire loop

A circular conductor with current 𝐼, radius 𝑎 results in a magnetic field strength 𝐁 at the point a length of 𝑥 along its "axis".1

The above situation yields a number of useful symmetries: viz. any components of 𝑑𝐁 arising from one point on the wire perpendicular to the axis will be canceled out by the 𝑑𝐁 on the opposite side. Therefore, 𝐁 along this axis is always parallel to the axis itself. Specifically, solving the Biot-Savart Law for this setup gives

𝐁=𝜇0𝐼𝑎22(𝑎2+𝑥2)3/2

which, when 𝑥 =0, i.e. the field strength directly in the ring's centre, simplifies to

𝐁=𝜇0𝐼2𝑎

The direction of the 𝐁-field at any point along the axis can be determined by a right hand rule: curl the fingers in the direction of current and the thumb points in the direction of the 𝐁-field.

Note when 𝑥 𝑎 this gives a 𝐵 𝑥3, which is analogous to an electric dipole. See Magnetic dipole moment.

𝐁=𝜇0𝐼𝐀2𝜋𝑥3


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Footnotes

  1. 2020. Magnetism, pp. 22ff.