04Class 12 Physics

Moving Charges and Magnetism formulas

Magnetic force, Biot-Savart and Ampere's law formulas for Moving Charges and Magnetism. Use the right-hand rule on every question.

Force

Lorentz force
F⃗=q(E⃗+v⃗×B⃗)\displaystyle \vec F = q(\vec E + \vec v\times\vec B)
Force on a wire
F⃗=IL⃗×B⃗\displaystyle \vec F = I\vec L\times\vec B
Radius in a magnetic field
r=mvqB\displaystyle r = \frac{mv}{qB}
Cyclotron frequency
ν=qB2πm\displaystyle \nu = \frac{qB}{2\pi m}

It doesn't depend on speed.

Force between parallel wires
FL=μ0I1I22πd\displaystyle \frac{F}{L} = \frac{\mu_0 I_1I_2}{2\pi d}

Like currents attract.

Magnetic field

Biot-Savart law
dB⃗=μ04πI dl⃗×r^r2\displaystyle d\vec B = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{I\,d\vec l\times\hat r}{r^2}
Long straight wire
B=μ0I2πr\displaystyle B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}
Centre of a circular loop
B=μ0I2R\displaystyle B = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2R}
Axis of a circular loop
B=μ0IR22(R2+x2)3/2\displaystyle B = \frac{\mu_0 IR^2}{2(R^2 + x^2)^{3/2}}
Ampere's law
∮B⃗⋅dl⃗=μ0Ienclosed\displaystyle \oint\vec B\cdot d\vec l = \mu_0 I_{\text{enclosed}}
Long solenoid
B=μ0nI\displaystyle B = \mu_0 nI

n is turns per unit length.

Current loops

Magnetic moment
m⃗=NIA⃗\displaystyle \vec m = NI\vec A
Torque on a loop
τ⃗=m⃗×B⃗\displaystyle \vec\tau = \vec m\times\vec B
Galvanometer to ammeter
S=IgGI−Ig\displaystyle S = \frac{I_gG}{I - I_g}

Shunt in parallel.

Galvanometer to voltmeter
R=VIg−G\displaystyle R = \frac{V}{I_g} - G

High resistance in series.

Where students slip up

  • Expecting a magnetic force to change a particle's speed. It's always perpendicular to v, so it does no work.
  • Forgetting the charge's sign. For a negative charge, the force is opposite to what the right-hand rule gives.
  • Using the infinite-wire result on a short segment.

Try it on your weakest chapter.

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