AP Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism

Unit 12

Magnetic Fields and Electromagnetism

8 practice questions · Free response

Notes

Magnetic force

  • On a charge: $\vec F = q\vec v \times \vec B$. On a current: $\vec F = I\vec\ell \times \vec B$.
  • Circular motion in a uniform field: $\displaystyle r = \frac{mv}{qB}$, period $\displaystyle T = \frac{2\pi m}{qB}$ (independent of speed).
  • Velocity selector: crossed $\vec E$ and $\vec B$ let through only $\displaystyle v = \frac{E}{B}$.
  • A current loop in a field feels a torque: $\tau = NIAB\sin\theta$.

Sources of magnetic fields

  • Biot–Savart law: $\displaystyle d\vec B = \frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{I\,d\vec\ell \times \hat r}{r^2}$. Use it for arcs and loops. At the center of a circular loop: $\displaystyle B = \frac{\mu_0I}{2R}$.
  • Ampère's law: $\oint\vec B \cdot d\vec\ell = \mu_0I_{enc}$. Use it with high symmetry:
SourceField
Long straight wire$\displaystyle B = \frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi r}$
Inside a long solenoid$B = \mu_0nI$ ($n$ turns per meter)
Inside a thick wire, uniform current, $r < R$$\displaystyle B = \frac{\mu_0Ir}{2\pi R^2}$
  • Parallel currents attract with force per length $\displaystyle \frac{F}{L} = \frac{\mu_0I_1I_2}{2\pi d}$.

Practice

An electron moves with velocity $\vec v = v\hat i$ in a field $\vec B = B\hat j$. The force on it points:
A proton circles in a uniform magnetic field. If its speed doubles, the period of its orbit:
In a velocity selector with $E = 2.0 \times 10^4$ V/m and $B = 0.10$ T, which speed passes straight through?
What is the field at the center of a circular loop of radius 0.10 m carrying 5.0 A? ($\mu_0 = 4\pi \times 10^{-7}$)
A solenoid has 1,000 turns per meter and carries 2.0 A. What is the field inside?
Inside a long thick wire with uniform current, the magnetic field:
The magnetic field outside an ideal long solenoid is approximately:
Two wires 0.10 m apart carry 10 A each in opposite directions. The force per meter between them is:

Free response

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Free-response question

A long cylindrical wire of radius $R$ carries a current $I$ spread uniformly over its cross-section.

(a) Use Ampère's law to find $B$ outside the wire ($r > R$).

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Circular loop of radius $r$: $\displaystyle B(2\pi r) = \mu_0I \Rightarrow B = \frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi r}$.

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(b) Use Ampère's law to find $B$ inside the wire ($r < R$).

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$\displaystyle I_{enc} = I\frac{r^2}{R^2}$. $\displaystyle B(2\pi r) = \mu_0I\frac{r^2}{R^2} \Rightarrow B = \frac{\mu_0Ir}{2\pi R^2}$.

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(c) Describe the graph of $B$ vs $r$.

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It rises linearly from 0 at the center to a maximum of $\displaystyle \frac{\mu_0I}{2\pi R}$ at the surface, then falls off as $\displaystyle \frac{1}{r}$.

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