Magnetic Field of a Solenoid
By The magnetic field inside a long solenoid is uniform. The field inside a solenoid depends on the current $I$ and the number of turns per unit length $n$ i.e., \begin{align} B=\mu_0 n I. \end{align} A solenoid of length $l$ and total number of turns $N$ has $n=N/l$ turns per unit length. The magnetic field outside a long solenoid is zero.
The field inside a long solenoid can be derived by using Ampere's law.
Problems from IIT JEE
Problem (IIT JEE 2013): A steady current $I$ flows along an infinitely long hollow cylindrical conductor of radius $R$. The cylinder is placed coaxially inside an infinite solenoid of radius $2R$. The solenoid has $n$ turns per unit length and carries a steady current $I$. Consider a point P at a distance $r$ from the common axis. The correct statement(s) is (are)
- In the region $0 < r < R$, the magnetic field is non-zero.
- In the region $R < r < 2R$, the magnetic field is along the common axis.
- In the region $R < r < 2R$, the magnetic field is tangential to the circle of radius $r$ centered on the axis.
- In the region $r > 2R$, the magnetic field is non-zero.
Solution: Let $\vec{B}_{\textrm{cyl}}$ be the magnetic field due to the hollow cylindrical conductor of radius $R$, $\vec{B}_{\textrm{sol}}$ be the magnetic field due to the solenoid of radius $2R$, and $\vec{B}_{\textrm{net}}$ be the resultant of these two. The direction of $\vec{B}_\text{cyl}$ is tangential (along $\hat{\theta}$) and its magnitude remains same at all points lying on a circle of radius $r$ (see figure).
The Ampere's circuital law, $\oint\vec{B}\cdot\mathrm{d}\vec{l}=\mu_0I_{\textrm{enc}}$, gives field due to the cylindrical conductor as, \begin{alignat}{2} \label{xvb:eqn:1} \vec{B}_{\textrm{cyl}}= \begin{cases} 0, & \text{if $r < R$;}\\ \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}\,\hat{\theta}, & {\text{otherwise.}} \end{cases} \end{alignat} The field due to the solenoid is given by, \begin{alignat}{2} \label{xvb:eqn:2} \vec{B}_{\textrm{sol}}= \begin{cases} \mu_0 n I\, \hat{z}, & \text{ if $r < 2R$;} \\ 0, & \text{otherwise.} \end{cases} \end{alignat} These equations gives net field as, \begin{alignat}{2} \vec{B}_{\textrm{net}}= \begin{cases} \mu_0 n I\, \hat{z}, & \text{ if $r < R$;} \\ \mu_0 n I\, \hat{z}+\frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}\,\hat{\theta}, & \text{ if $R < r < 2R$;} \\ \frac{\mu_0 I}{2\pi r}\,\hat{\theta}, & \text{otherwise.} \end{cases} \nonumber \end{alignat}
