Magnetic Field From Square Wire

A huge superconducting wire with a square cross-section carries a constant DC current of one million ( 1 0 6 10^6 ) amps. The wire is infinitely long, and its cross-section has a side length of 1 m 1 m .

What is the magnitude of the magnetic flux density ( B B ) at the point ( x , y ) = ( 2 m , 2 m ) (x,y) = (2 m, 2 m) (in milli-Teslas)?

Details and Assumptions:

  • Use the free-space permeability constant. μ 0 = 4 π × 1 0 7 H / m \mu_0 = 4 \pi \times 10^{-7} H/m
  • The wire's lower left corner is at the origin in the x y xy plane, and its length is along the z z -axis (into the page).
  • The current flow is along the z z -axis (into the page), and the current density is uniform over the cross-section.
  • The sides of the square cross-section are aligned with the x x and y y axes.

Bonus: The assumption of uniform current density, while convenient, is dubious in light of actual superconductor physics. See the Meissner Effect for a primer on superconductor fundamentals. Thanks to Laszlo Mihaly for pointing this out.


The answer is 94.37.

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2 solutions

Fiki Akbar
Nov 14, 2017

Consider a very thin infinite long wire carries a current I I placed along z-axis (into the page). The magnetic field at r 0 = ( x 0 , y 0 ) \vec{r}_0 = (x_0,y_0) is given by B = μ 0 I 2 π r 0 2 ( k ^ × r 0 ) . \vec{B} = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r_{0}^2}(-\hat{k}\times\vec{r}_0)\:.

Now, let consider the small partition of the wire with area d A = d x d y dA = dx dy placed at r = ( x , y ) \vec{r} = (x,y) . Since the current density is uniform along the cross section, then the partition carries current d I = I A d A = I d x d y dI = \frac{I}{A} dA = I dxdy . Using the result above, the magnetic field of the partition at r 0 = ( x 0 , y 0 ) \vec{r}_0 = (x_0,y_0) is given by d B = μ 0 d I 2 π r 0 r 2 [ k ^ × ( r 0 r ) ] = μ 0 I 2 π ( y 0 y ) i ( x 0 x ) j ( y 0 y ) 2 + ( x 0 x ) 2 d x d y . \begin{aligned} d\vec{B} & = & \frac{\mu_0 dI}{2\pi |\vec{r}_{0} - \vec{r}|^2}\left[-\hat{k}\times(\vec{r}_{0} - \vec{r})\right] \\ & = & \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi} \:\frac{(y_{0}-y) \mathrm{i} - (x_{0}-x) \mathrm{j}}{(y_{0}-y)^2 + (x_{0}-x)^2} dxdy\:. \end{aligned}

With x 0 = 2 m x_0 = 2 \:\mathrm{m} and y 0 = 2 m y_0 = 2\:\mathrm{m} , the x-component of magnetic field, B x = μ 0 I 2 π 0 1 0 1 ( y 0 y ) ( y 0 y ) 2 + ( x 0 x ) 2 d x d y = 66.8 m T , B_x = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1} \:\frac{(y_{0}-y)}{(y_{0}-y)^2 + (x_{0}-x)^2} dxdy = 66.8 \:\mathrm{mT}\:, and the y-component of magnetic field B y = μ 0 I 2 π 0 1 0 1 ( x 0 x ) ( y 0 y ) 2 + ( x 0 x ) 2 d x d y = 66.8 m T . B_y = -\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi}\int_{0}^{1}\int_{0}^{1} \:\frac{(x_{0}-x)}{(y_{0}-y)^2 + (x_{0}-x)^2} dxdy = -66.8 \:\mathrm{mT}\:.

Thus, the magnitude of magnetic field at r 0 = ( x 0 , y 0 ) = ( 2 , 2 ) m \vec{r}_0 = (x_0,y_0) = (2,2) \:\mathrm{m} is B = B x 2 + B y 2 = 94.37 m T . B = \sqrt{B_{x}^{2} + B_{y}^{2}} = 94.37 \:\mathrm{mT}\:.

Hyunguk Lee
Jun 24, 2020

Think about ampere's law around the center of the square

B 2 π (3/2) root(2) = μ_0 * I

=>B=( μ_0 * I)/(2 π (3/2)*root(2))

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