Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Abstract A new proof of Amperes law from the BiotSavart law is presented. In the first step, a physical
interpretation of current as moving charges carrying their electric fields with them simplifies the derivation of the
magnetic field of current in a straight infinitely long conductor. The m.m.f. of a finite electric circuit linking a magnetic
path is synthesized from those of two infinitely long wires carrying equal currents in opposite directions, only one of
them threading the path. This makes the second step rigorous, enabling a non-mathematical treatment of the magnetic
effects of electric currents in free space.
List of symbols
(SI units are implied throughout)
This paper is about the way the topic of the magnetic effects of electric currents
in free space is presented, with particular reference to the way Amperes mag-
In the second proof, given by Hammond and Sykulski,2 the additional result
used is that the magnetic potential difference between the two sides of a
magnetic shell, equivalent to the current circuit, can be written down by
analogy with the electric potential difference across the plates of a charged
capacitor, as
m
U= (3)
m A
0
This is then shown to be equal to the change in potential in going round a
closed path linking the circuit. Imposing the dipole/current-loop equivalence,
eqn (1), this change in potential, or the m.m.f. acting in the path, becomes I.
Both proofs require the concept of the change in magnetic potential as an
observer moves from one point to another. The process involved is implicitly
mathematical, being the integration of H over the path. But a physical interpret-
ation is highly desirable at this level of teaching. Duffin4 says that, if a physical
picture of this is required, the best we can do is to interpret it as the work
done per unit pole in taking it round the path. Hammond and Sykulski2
similarly say that, for a path linked with the current ... work is done by a unit
pole traversing a current loop. Thus the proofs involve movement of unit
poles, an impossible process. Besides, the overall logic used by each is rather
contrived and tortuous.
Q
I
H . dl=H . l= 2pr=I
2pr
or
Q H . dl=I (5)
case. He then goes on to give, ab initio, the first of the two more-general proofs
that start with the dipole/current-loop equivalence as the basic postulate,
outlined in the section From the dipole/current-loop equivalence above.
The next two sections together present a unified sequence of derivations
leading to Amperes law. In the process, they constitute a simple, rigorous and
complete treatment of the topic of magnetic effects of electric currents in
free space.
since m H=B and A=lw. Since w sin h is the separation between the two
0
horizontal conductors of the loop, the force on each conductor acting in the
directions shown must be
f =BIl (7)
[Note that the pole in equation (6) and that in Fig. 3( b) are stationary and
their respective opposite poles are always present, distance d away, but have
merely been ignored. If necessary, their effect can easily be calculated and
included in our study, but it has simply not been necessary. In any case,
considering one pole of a stationary dipole is as legitimate as considering a
current element.2,6]
For the infinitely long conductor of Fig. 1( b), obviously, D=q/2pr, radially
outwards and moving axially into the page.
Hence
vq I
H= =
2pr 2pr
Hence for the circular magnetic path with the conductor at the centre
Q H . dl=I (5)
Postulates Laws
I dl
m=m IA (1) f =p . H (6) f =BIl (7) dH= sin h (4)
0 4pr2
E=vB (9) H=vD (8)
Q H . dl=I (5)
Conclusions
Currently, even the simplest textbook treatments of the topic of the magnetic
effects of electric currents in free space present one or more of the following
problems to the learner: mathematical complexity, conceptual and logical
difficulties, lack of rigour and too many basic postulates. In this paper, a
judicious choice of postulates together with an optimum sequence of presen-
tation have led to a simple, rigorous and complete treatment of the topic. This
has been made possible by the new two-step proof of Amperes magnetic
circuital law.
Acknowledgement
The author learnt the essentials of electromagnetism from the late Prof. G. W.
Carter (19091989) of Leeds University and from his classic book, T he
Electromagnetic Field in its Engineering Aspects.1
References
1 G. W. Carter, T he Electromagnetic Field in its Engineering Aspects, 2nd edn (Longmans, 1967),
pp. 8485, 9496.
2 P. Hammond and J. K. Sykulski, Electromagnetism: Physical Processes and Computation
(Oxford University Press, Oxford, 1995), pp. 4851, 5860, 9092.
3 C. W. Oatley, Electric and Magnetic Fields: An Introduction (Cambridge University Press,
Cambridge, 1976), pp. 6670, 7475.
4 W. J. Duffin, Electricity and Magnetism, 4th edn (McGraw-Hill, London, 1990), pp. 195196.
5 C. Christopoulos, An Introduction to Applied Electromagnetism (John Wiley & Sons, Chichester,
1995), pp. 6162, 6566.
6 M. Sibley, Introduction to Electromagnetism (Arnold, 1996), pp. 6970, 7475.
7 J. D. Kraus, Electromagnetics, 4th edn (McGraw-Hill, New York, 1992), pp. 224225, 238.
8 K. C. Rajaraman, Ampere and Faraday: the electromagnetic symmetry, Int. J. Elect. Enging.
Educ., 33(4) (1996), 291302.