MCQMediumJEE 2023Ampere's Law

JEE Physics 2023 Question with Solution

A long straight wire of circular cross-section (radius aa) is carrying steady current II. The current II is uniformly distributed across the cross-section. The magnetic field is:

  • A

    Zero in the region r<ar < a and inversely proportional to rr in the region r>ar > a

  • B

    Inversely proportional to rr in the region r<ar < a and uniform throughout in the region r>ar > a

  • C

    Directly proportional to rr in the region r<ar < a and inversely proportional to rr in the region r>ar > a

  • D

    Uniform in the region r<ar < a and inversely proportional to rr in the region r>ar > a

Answer

Correct answer:C

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: A long straight wire of radius aa carries a steady current II uniformly distributed over its cross-section.

Find: How the magnetic field varies with distance rr from the axis in the regions r<ar<a and r>ar>a.

Using Ampere's law, the magnetic field at distance rr depends on the current enclosed by an Amperian circle of radius rr.

For the region inside the wire where **rr**

Applying Ampere's law,

B(2πr)=μ0Ienc=μ0Ir2a2B(2\pi r) = \mu_0 I_{\text{enc}} = \mu_0 I\frac{r^2}{a^2}

Hence,

B=μ0I2πa2rB = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi a^2}r

So, inside the wire, BrB \propto r.

For the region outside the wire where r>ar>a, the entire current II is enclosed. Therefore,

B(2πr)=μ0IB(2\pi r) = \mu_0 I

which gives

B=μ0I2πrB = \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}

So, outside the wire, B1rB \propto \frac{1}{r}.

Therefore, the magnetic field is directly proportional to rr in the region r<ar<a and inversely proportional to rr in the region r>ar>a. The correct option is C.

Using current density explicitly

Given: The current is uniformly distributed over the circular cross-section of radius aa.

Find: The radial dependence of magnetic field BB.

The uniform current density is

J=Iπa2J = \frac{I}{\pi a^2}

At a distance **rr**

Now by Ampere's law,

Bdl=μ0Ienc\oint \vec{B}\cdot d\vec{l} = \mu_0 I_{\text{enc}}

By symmetry, BB is constant on a circular path of radius rr, so

B(2πr)=μ0Ir2a2B(2\pi r)=\mu_0 I\frac{r^2}{a^2}

Thus,

B=μ0I2πa2rB=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi a^2}r

For r>ar>a, the enclosed current becomes the full current II. Hence,

B(2πr)=μ0IB(2\pi r)=\mu_0 I

which gives

B=μ0I2πrB=\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}

Thus the variation is BrB\propto r for r<ar<a and B1rB\propto \frac{1}{r} for r>ar>a. So the correct option is C.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the magnetic field is zero inside the wire because the current is distributed throughout the cross-section. This is incorrect because an Amperian loop of radius **rr**

  • Taking the full current II as enclosed even for **rr**

  • Concluding that Br2B\propto r^2 inside the wire from Iencr2I_{\text{enc}}\propto r^2. This misses the extra factor of rr from the circular path length 2πr2\pi r in Ampere's law. After dividing by 2πr2\pi r, the field becomes proportional to rr, not r2r^2.

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