NVAEasyJEE 2025Biot–Savart Law

JEE Physics 2025 Question with Solution

A loop ABCD, carrying current I=12AI = 12 \, A, is placed in a plane, consists of two semi-circular segments of radius R1=6πmR_1 = 6\pi \, m and R2=4πmR_2 = 4\pi \, m. The magnitude of the resultant magnetic field at center O is k×107Tk \times 10^{-7} \, T. The value of kk is _____ (Given μ0=4π×107TmA1\mu_0 = 4\pi \times 10^{-7} \, T \, m \, A^{-1})

Current-carrying loop with two semicircular arcs centered at O, points A, B, O, C, D on diameter line, current direction shown along arcs, radii R1 and R2 marked from O to the arcs.

Answer

Correct answer:1

Step-by-step solution

Standard Method

Given: I=12AI = 12 \, A, R1=6πmR_1 = 6\pi \, m, R2=4πmR_2 = 4\pi \, m, and μ0=4π×107TmA1\mu_0 = 4\pi \times 10^{-7} \, T \, m \, A^{-1}.

Find: The value of kk if the resultant magnetic field at OO is k×107Tk \times 10^{-7} \, T.

The magnetic field at the center due to a semicircular arc is

B=μ0I4RB = \frac{\mu_0 I}{4R}

The straight segments passing through the line of the center produce zero magnetic field at OO.

So, only the two semicircular segments contribute. Their magnetic fields are in opposite directions, hence

Bnet=μ0I4R2μ0I4R1B_{\text{net}} = \left| \frac{\mu_0 I}{4R_2} - \frac{\mu_0 I}{4R_1} \right|

Substituting the given values,

Bnet=4π×107×124(14π16π)B_{\text{net}} = \frac{4\pi \times 10^{-7} \times 12}{4} \left( \frac{1}{4\pi} - \frac{1}{6\pi} \right) Bnet=12π×107(3212π)B_{\text{net}} = 12\pi \times 10^{-7} \left( \frac{3 - 2}{12\pi} \right) Bnet=12π×107(112π)B_{\text{net}} = 12\pi \times 10^{-7} \left( \frac{1}{12\pi} \right) Bnet=1×107TB_{\text{net}} = 1 \times 10^{-7} \, T

Comparing with k×107Tk \times 10^{-7} \, T, we get

k=1k = 1

Therefore, the value of kk is 11.

Direct Difference of Arc Fields

Given: Two semicircular arcs of radii R1R_1 and R2R_2 carry the same current II in opposite senses about the center OO.

Find: The value of kk.

Since the field due to a semicircle is inversely proportional to radius,

B1RB \propto \frac{1}{R}

So the resultant field is directly

B0=BR1BR2=μ0I4R2μ0I4R1B_0 = \left|B_{R_1} - B_{R_2}\right| = \left| \frac{\mu_0 I}{4R_2} - \frac{\mu_0 I}{4R_1} \right|

Now substitute:

B0=4π×107×12414π16πB_0 = \frac{4\pi \times 10^{-7} \times 12}{4} \left| \frac{1}{4\pi} - \frac{1}{6\pi} \right| B0=12π×107112π=1×107TB_0 = 12\pi \times 10^{-7} \left| \frac{1}{12\pi} \right| = 1 \times 10^{-7} \, T

Hence,

k=1k = 1

The required answer is 11.

Common mistakes

  • Including the magnetic field due to the straight segments is incorrect because the center OO lies on their line, so for each current element dd\vec{\ell}, the vector to OO is parallel and d×r^=0d\vec{\ell} \times \hat{r} = 0. Only the semicircular arcs contribute.

  • Adding the magnitudes of the two semicircular fields is wrong because the currents around the center produce magnetic fields in opposite directions. Use the right-hand thumb rule and take the difference, not the sum.

  • Using the full-circle formula μ0I2R\frac{\mu_0 I}{2R} for each arc is a common error. Each curved part is a semicircle, so the correct field at the center is μ0I4R\frac{\mu_0 I}{4R}.

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