Biot–Savart law

Electromagnetism
Electricity Magnetism
Electrostatics Electric charge Coulomb's law Electric field Electric flux Gauss's law Electric potential energy Electric potential Electrostatic induction Electric dipole moment Polarization density
Magnetostatics Ampère's law Electric current Magnetic field Magnetization Magnetic flux Biot–Savart law Magnetic dipole moment Gauss's law for magnetism
Electrodynamics Lorentz force law emf Electromagnetic induction Faraday’s law Lenz's law Displacement current Maxwell's equations EM field Electromagnetic radiation Liénard–Wiechert potential Maxwell tensor Eddy current
Electrical Network Electrical conduction Electrical resistance Capacitance Inductance Impedance Resonant cavities Waveguides
Covariant formulation Electromagnetic tensor EM Stress-energy tensor Four-current Electromagnetic four-potential
Scientists Ampère Coulomb Faraday Gauss Heaviside Henry Hertz Lorentz Maxwell Tesla Volta Weber Ørsted

In physics, particularly electromagnetism, the Biot–Savart law ( /ˈbiːoʊ səˈvɑr/ or /ˈbjoʊ səˈvɑr/) is an equation that describes the magnetic field generated by an electric current. It relates the magnetic field to the magnitude, direction, length, and proximity of the electric current. The law is valid in the magnetostatic approximation, and is consistent with both Ampère's circuital law and Gauss's law for magnetism.

Equation

Electric currents (along closed curve)

The Biot–Savart law is used to compute the resultant magnetic field B at position r generated by a steady current I (for example due to a wire): a continual flow of charges which is constant in time and the charge neither accumulates nor depletes at any point. The law is a physical example of a line integral: evaluated over the path C the electric currents flow. The equation in SI units is

$\mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} \int_C \frac{I d\mathbf{l} \times \mathbf{r}}{|\mathbf{r}|^3}$

where ${\mathbf{r}=r\hat{\mathbf{r}}}$ is the full displacement vector from the wire element to the point at which the field is being computed and $\scriptstyle{\hat{\mathbf{r}}}$ is the unit vector of r. Using this the equation can be equivalently written

$\mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int_C \frac{I d\mathbf{l} \times \mathbf{\hat r}}{|\mathbf{r}|^2}$

where dl is a vector whose magnitude is the length of the differential element of the wire, in the direction of conventional current, and μ₀ is the magnetic constant. The symbols in boldface denote vector quantities.

The integral is usually around a closed curve, since electric currents can only flow around closed paths. An infinitely long wire (as used in the definition of the SI unit of electric current - the Ampere) is a counter-example.

To apply the equation, the point in space where the magnetic field is to be calculated is chosen. Holding that point fixed, the line integral over the path of the electric currents is calculated to find the total magnetic field at that point. The application of this law implicitly relies on the superposition principle for magnetic fields, i.e. the fact that the magnetic field is a vector sum of the field created by each infinitesimal section of the wire individually.

Electric currents (throughout conductor volume)

The formulations given above work well when the current can be approximated as running through an infinitely-narrow wire. If the current has some thickness, the proper formulation of the Biot–Savart law (again in SI units) is:

$\mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\iiint_V\ \frac{(\mathbf{J}\, dV) \times \mathbf{r}}{r^3}$

or equivalently

$\mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\iiint_V \ \frac{(\mathbf{J}\, dV) \times \mathbf{\hat r}}{r^2}$

where dV is the differential element of volume and J is the current density vector in that volume.

In this case the integral is over the volume of the conductor.

The Biot–Savart law is fundamental to magnetostatics, playing a similar role to Coulomb's law in electrostatics. When magnetostatics does not apply, the Biot–Savart law should be replaced by Jefimenko's equations.

Constant uniform current

In the special case of a steady constant current I, the magnetic field B is

$\mathbf B = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} I \int_C \frac{d\mathbf l \times \mathbf{\hat r}}{r^2}$

i.e. the current can be removed from the integral.

Point charge at constant velocity

In the case of a point charged particle q moving at a constant velocity v, then Maxwell's equations give the following expression for the electric field and magnetic field:

$\mathbf{E} = \frac{q}{4\pi \epsilon_0} \frac{1-v^2/c^2}{(1-v^2\sin^2\theta/c^2)^{3/2}}\frac{\mathbf{\hat r}}{r^2}$

$\mathbf{B} = \mathbf{v} \times \frac{1}{c^2} \mathbf{E}$

where $\mathbf{\hat r}$ is the vector pointing from the current (non-retarded) position of the particle to the point at which the field is being measured, and θ is the angle between $\mathbf{v}$and $\mathbf{r}$.

When $v^2 \ll c^2$ , the electric field and magnetic field can be approximated as

$\mathbf{E} =\frac{q}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\ \frac{\mathbf{\hat r}}{r^2}$ 、

$\mathbf{B} =\frac{\mu_0 q \mathbf{v}}{4\pi} \times \frac{\mathbf{\hat r}}{r^2}$

These equations are called the "Biot–Savart law for a point charge" due to its closely analogous form to the "standard" Biot–Savart law given previously. These equations were first derived by Oliver Heaviside in 1888.

Magnetic responses applications

The Biot–Savart law can be used in the calculation of magnetic responses even at the atomic or molecular level, e.g. chemical shieldings or magnetic susceptibilities, provided that the current density can be obtained from a quantum mechanical calculation or theory.

Aerodynamics applications

The figure shows the velocity ($dV$) induced at a point P by an element of vortex filament ($dL$) of strength $\Gamma$.

The Biot–Savart law is also used in aerodynamic theory to calculate the velocity induced by vortex lines.

In the aerodynamic application, the roles of vorticity and current are reversed as when compared to the magnetic application.

In Maxwell's 1861 paper 'On Physical Lines of Force', magnetic field strength H was directly equated with pure vorticity (spin), whereas B was a weighted vorticity that was weighted for the density of the vortex sea. Maxwell considered magnetic permeability μ to be a measure of the density of the vortex sea. Hence the relationship,

1. Magnetic induction current

   $\mathbf{B} = \mu \mathbf{H}$

   was essentially a rotational analogy to the linear electric current relationship,
2. Electric convection current

   $\mathbf{J} = \rho \mathbf{v}$

   where ρ is electric charge density. B was seen as a kind of magnetic current of vortices aligned in their axial planes, with H being the circumferential velocity of the vortices.

The electric current equation can be viewed as a convective current of electric charge that involves linear motion. By analogy, the magnetic equation is an inductive current involving spin. There is no linear motion in the inductive current along the direction of the B vector. The magnetic inductive current represents lines of force. In particular, it represents lines of inverse square law force.

In aerodynamics the induced air currents are forming solenoidal rings around a vortex axis that is playing the role that electric current plays in magnetism. This puts the air currents of aerodynamics into the equivalent role of the magnetic induction vector B in electromagnetism.

In electromagnetism the B lines form solenoidal rings around the source electric current, whereas in aerodynamics, the air currents form solenoidal rings around the source vortex axis.

Hence in electromagnetism, the vortex plays the role of 'effect' whereas in aerodynamics, the vortex plays the role of 'cause'. Yet when we look at the B lines in isolation, we see exactly the aerodynamic scenario in so much as that B is the vortex axis and H is the circumferential velocity as in Maxwell's 1861 paper.

For a vortex line of infinite length, the induced velocity at a point is given by

$v = \frac{\Gamma}{2\pi r}$

where Γ is the strength of the vortex and r is the perpendicular distance between the point and the vortex line.

This is a limiting case of the formula for vortex segments of finite length:

$v = \frac{\Gamma}{4 \pi r} \left[\cos A - \cos B \right]$

where A and B are the (signed) angles between the line and the two ends of the segment.

The Biot–Savart law, Ampère's circuital law, and Gauss's law for magnetism

See also: Curl (mathematics) and vector calculus identities

The magnetic field B as calculated from the Biot–Savart law will always satisfy Ampère's circuital law and Gauss's law for magnetism.

Outline of proof that a magnetic field calculated by the Biot–Savart law will always satisfy Gauss's law for magnetism and Ampère's law.

Starting with the Biot–Savart law: $\mathbf{B}(\mathbf{r}) = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} \iiint_V d^3r' \mathbf{J}(\mathbf{r}')\times \frac{\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|^3}$ Substituting the relation $\frac{\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|^3} = -\nabla\left(\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}\right)$ and using the product rule for curls, as well as the fact that J does not depend on the unprimed coordinates, this equation can be rewritten as $\mathbf{B}(\mathbf{r}) = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi} \nabla\times\iiint_V d^3r' \frac{\mathbf{J}(\mathbf{r}')}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}$ Since the divergence of a curl is always zero, this establishes Gauss's law for magnetism. Next, taking the curl of both sides, using the formula for the curl of a curl, and again using the fact that J does not depend on the unprimed coordinates, we eventually get the result $\nabla\times\mathbf{B} = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\nabla\iiint_V d^3r' \mathbf{J}(\mathbf{r}')\cdot\nabla\left(\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}\right) - \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\iiint_V d^3r' \mathbf{J}(\mathbf{r}')\nabla^2\left(\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}\right)$ Finally, plugging in the relations $\nabla\left(\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}\right) = -\nabla' \left(\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}\right),$ $\nabla^2\left(\frac{1}{|\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}'|}\right) = -4\pi \delta(\mathbf{r}-\mathbf{r}')$ (where δ is the Dirac delta function), using the fact that the divergence of J is zero (due to the assumption of magnetostatics), and performing an integration by parts, the result turns out to be $\nabla\times \mathbf{B} = \mu_0 \mathbf{J}$ i.e. Ampère's law (without Maxwell's correction, the displacement current.).

See also

People

• Jean-Baptiste Biot
• Félix Savart
• André-Marie Ampère
• James Clerk Maxwell

Electromagnetism

• Maxwell's equations
• Ampère's law
• Magnetism
• Coulomb's law
• Darwin Lagrangian

References

• Griffiths, David J. (1998). Introduction to Electrodynamics (3rd ed. ed.). Prentice Hall. ISBN 0-13-805326-X. 
• Feynman, Richard (1966). The Feynman Lectures on Physics (2nd ed. ed.). Addison-Wesley. ISBN 0-63-20717. 

Further reading

• Electricity and Modern Physics (2nd Edition), G.A.G. Bennet, Edward Arnold (UK), 1974, ISBN 0-7131-2459-8
• Essential Principles of Physics, P.M. Whelan, M.J. Hodgeson, 2nd Edition, 1978, John Murray, ISBN 0 7195 3382 1
• The Cambridge Handbook of Physics Formulas, G. Woan, Cambridge University Press, 2010, ISBN 978-0-521-57507-2.
• Physics for Scientists and Engineers - with Modern Physics (6th Edition), P. A. Tipler, G. Mosca, Freeman, 2008, ISBN 0 7167 8964 7
• Encyclopaedia of Physics (2nd Edition), R.G. Lerner, G.L. Trigg, VHC publishers, 1991, ISBN (Verlagsgesellschaft) 3-527-26954-1, ISBN (VHC Inc.) 0-89573-752-3
• McGraw Hill Encyclopaedia of Physics (2nd Edition), C.B. Parker, 1994, ISBN 0-07-051400-3

External links

• Electromagnetism, B. Crowell, Fullerton College
• MISN-0-125 The Ampère–Laplace–Biot–Savart Law by Orilla McHarris and Peter Signell for Project PHYSNET.