Ampere's Law and it's Applications
Ampere's circuital law :
Ampere's law is an alternative to Bio-Savart's law but it is useful for calculating
magnetic field only in situations with considerable symmetry.
Statement:
Ampere's circuital law states that the line integral of magnetic field around any
𝐵
closed path in vacuum/air is equal to UO times the total current enclosed by that
path.
This result holds good irrespective of the size and shape of the closed path
enclosing the current. This law is true for steady current only.
Proof :
Consider a long straight conductor carrying current I in the direction as shown in
figure . Due to the current in a conductor, the magnetic lines of force are
concentric circles centred on the conductor.
We know that magnitude of magnetic field at a point P at a perpendicular
distance a from the conductor is given by
Consider magnetic line of force of radius a. On this closed path, the magnitude
of is same everywhere.
The direction of at every point is along tangent to the circle i.e. angle between
and at every point on this path is zero i.e. cos Therefore, line
integral of over this closed path is given by
This proves Ampere's circuital law.
Note :
In order to use this law, it is necessary to choose a closed path for which it is
possible to determine the line integral of B. For this reason, this law has a
limited use. In some applications where this law is not applicable then we use
Biot-Savart's law.
Applications of Ampere's circuital law :
Gauss's law in electrostatics is used to determine electric intensity for the
surface of uniform / symmetric charge distribution. Similarly, Ampere's circuital
law is used to determine magnetic induction for current distribution with
sufficient symmetry. Ampere's circuital law is used (1) to determine magnetic
field due to a straight conductor carrying current. (2) To determine magnetic
field due to a solenoid carrying current. (3) To determine magnetic field due to a
current in a toroid.
1. Magnetic field due to a straight conductor carrying current:
Consider a long straight conductor carrying current I in the direction as shown in
figure .
Consider a point P at a distance 'a' from the length of conductor. Let B be
magnetic field at point B which we want to determine. The magnetic lines of
force are concentric circles centred at the conductor. Consider a circle of radius a
as the closed path. The magnitude of B is the same everywhere on this closed
path. Also, the angle between and is O everywhere on this path. Therefore,
applying Ampere's circuital law to this closed path, we have,
Thus equation (i) gives magnetic induction at a point due to straight conductor.
2. Magnetic field due to long solenoid :
Consider a long coil of wire consisting of closely packed loops called as solenoid.
(Solenoid is a Greek word meaning tube like). Figure (a) shows the magnetic
field due to a solenoid carrying current It should noted that magnetic field
resembles that of a bar magnet. Inside the solenoid, the magnetic field is
uniform and parallel to the solenoid axis. Outside the solenoid, the magnetic
field is very small as compared to the field inside and may be assumed zero.
Consider a long solenoid having closely packed coils. Let I be the current
through the solenoid. Let n be the number of tuns per unit length of solenoid.
Let B be the magnitude of magnetic field inside the solenoid.
In order to use Ampere's circuital law to determine the magnetic field inside a
solenoid, consider a 'rectangular closed path PQRS as shown in figure (b) where
PQ = /.
The line integral of B over the closed path PQRS is given by,
According to Ampere's circuital law, we have,
Thus, equation (iii) gives magnetic induction due to a long solenoid.
Remark:
i) It should be noted that, magnetic induction depends upon n and I. It does not
depend upon the position within the solenoid. Therefore, magnetic field inside
the solenoid is uniform.
ii) At points near the ends of the solenoid, the magnitude of magnetic field is
3.Magnetic field due to toroid :
An endless solenoid in the form of a ring is called a toroid. Figure shows the
magnetic field due to a toroid carrying current. The magnetic lines of force inside
the toroid are circular, concentric with the centre of the toroid. It should be
noted that magnetic field inside the toroid is uniform because the toroid has no
ends.
Consider a thin toroid having a large radius. Let I be the current through the
toroid. Let a be the mean radius of toroid. Let n be the number of turns per unit
length. Let B be the magnetic field inside the toroid.
In order to apply Ampere's circuital law, we choose the closed path (inside the
turns) as a circle of radius a (dotted line path). Note that magnitude'of B is the
same everywhere on this closed path. Further, angle between and is zero
everywhere on this path. Therefore, line integral of over this closed path is
given by,
Thus, equation (iii) gives magnetic induction due to a toroid. This expression is
similar to solenoid. Since toroid is a solenoid in the form of ring.
Remark:
1. It should be noted that magnetic field inside the toroid is independent of the
radius of toroid. It is because magnetic field is only confined to inside the toroid.
2. The magnetic field inside a toroid is constant and is always tangent to the
field lines.
