Question #01eef

1 Answer
Apr 18, 2017

I'm assuming the physical set up looks like this:

Van Gogh

Assuming the current, #I#, is moving CCW as indicated, then the effect of the B field, again acting in the direction shown, will be to create a torque #vec tau# that spins the loop about it's axis as shown. In this set-up, from the right hand rule, the force vectors on the RHS of the blue vertical axis will act out of the page, and vice versa:

So we do that calculus thing and linearise a small element of the circular loop:

Cezanne

The force #vec F # on a current-carrying wire of length and orientation #vec L#, due to a magnetic field #vec B# (BTW this is all derived from the Lorentz Force Law), is:

#vec F = I (vec L xx vec B) #

From the drawing: #abs(vec L) = R d theta#

So, again from the right hand rule, the force #d vec F# on this small element is:

#d vec F = I abs(vec L) abs(vec B) sin (pi/2 - theta) \ hat z#, i.e. acting out of the screen/page.

# = I \ R \ d theta \ B \ cos theta \ hat z#

The associated torque #d vec tau# is:

#d vec tau = vec r xx d vec F#, where #vec r# is the small element's position vector relative to its axis of rotation .

In this case: #vec r = R cos theta \ hat x#

And so:

#d vec tau = R cos theta \ hat x xx I \ R \ d theta \ B \ cos theta \ hat z#

# = - IBR^2 cos^2 theta \ d theta \ hat y#

#implies vec tau = - IBR^2 int_0^(2 pi) cos^2 theta \ d theta \ hat y#

Simple maths sub and...

# = - pi IBR^2 \ hat y#

That means that:

#implies abs(vec tau) = pi IBR^2 #

#= pi (28 xx 10^(-3))( 0.9) (1.3/2)^2 = 0.033 Nm#