Question 12 Marks
In the given figure, the curved portion is a semi-circle and the straight wires are long. Find the magnetic field at point O.


Answer
View full question & answer→Magnetic field at point O due to any current element is perpendicular to and points out of the plane of paper. Magnetic field at O due to the upper straight wire is
$B _1=\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)}=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi d}$
Similarly, field at O due to lower straight wire is
$B _2=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi d}$
Field at O due to the semicircle of radius $\frac{d}{2}$ is
$B _3=\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)}=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 d}$
Resultant field at O,
$B = B _1+ B _2+ B _3=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 d}\left[1+\frac{2}{\pi}\right]$
$B _1=\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)}=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi d}$
Similarly, field at O due to lower straight wire is
$B _2=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 \pi d}$
Field at O due to the semicircle of radius $\frac{d}{2}$ is
$B _3=\frac{1}{2} \times \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\left(\frac{d}{2}\right)}=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 d}$
Resultant field at O,
$B = B _1+ B _2+ B _3=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2 d}\left[1+\frac{2}{\pi}\right]$