Non time varying currents produce static magnetic fields. The magnetic fields are governed by Maxwell's second pair of equations:
- $\nabla . \vec{B} = 0$
- $\nabla \times \vec{H} = \vec{J}$
- J is the current density, B is the magnetic flux density, and H is the magnetic field intensity
- B and H are related by $\vec{B} = \mu \vec{H}$
- Note that this is similar to the relation between D and E, $\vec{D} = \varepsilon \vec{E}$
- Magnetic force on a charged test particle moving with velocity $u$: $F_m = q\vec{u} \times \vec{B}$
- Lorentz force
- Particle experiences forces from both electric field and magnetic field
- $F = q(\vec{E} + \vec{u}\times\vec{B})$
- Magnetic force does no work when a particle is displaced
- In other words, a magnetic field has no influence over the kinetic energy of the particle
- Note that, varying magnetic fields can do work on a particle
- Related: Faraday's law of induction
- Magnetic force on a current carrying conductor
- $F_m = I\oint_{C}^{} \vec{dl} \times \vec{B}$
- Total magnetic force on any closed current loop in a uniform magnetic field is zero
- This can be seen immediately by seeing that integral of $\vec{dl}$ around a closed loop is 0
- Biot Savart's law
- $H = \frac{I}{4\pi} \int_{l}^{} {\frac{\vec{dl} \times \hat{R}}{R^2}}$
- This relates the magnetic field $H$ at any point in space to the current $I$ that generates $H$
- You may also use surface and volume currents with the law
- For an infinitely long wire carrying current along z axis
- The magnetic field looks like this: $\hat{\phi}\frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi r}$. This is important because it states that in the neighborhood of a linear conductor carrying a current I, the induced magnetic field forms concentric circles around the wire, and its intensity is directly proportional to $I$ and inversely proportional to the distance $r$.
- It's easier when you visualize this statement above
- Ampere's law
- $\nabla \times \vec{H} = \vec{J} \leftrightarrow \oint_{C} \vec{H} . \vec{dl} = I$
- Line integral of $H$ around a closed path is equal to the current traversing the surface bounded by the path