## Activity: Magnetic Field Due to a Spinning Ring of Charge

Static Fields 2023 (7 years)

Students work in small groups to use the Biot-Savart law $\vec{B}(\vec{r}) =\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int\frac{\vec{J}(\vec{r}^{\,\prime})\times \left(\vec{r}-\vec{r}^{\,\prime}\right)}{\vert \vec{r}-\vec{r}^{\,\prime}\vert^3} \, d\tau^{\prime}$ to find an integral expression for the magnetic field, $\vec{B}(\vec{r})$, due to a spinning ring of charge.

In an optional extension, students find a series expansion for $\vec{B}(\vec{r})$ either on the axis or in the plane of the ring, for either small or large values of the relevant geometric variable. Add an extra half hour or more to the time estimate for the optional extension.

What students learn
• to perform a magnetic field calculation using the Biot-Savart Law;
• to decide which form of the Biot-Savart Law to use, depending on the dimensions of the current density;
• how to find current from total charge $Q$, period $T$, and the geometry of the problem, radius $R$;
• to perform the cross product in the numerator of the Biot-Savart Law using cyclindrical basis vectors;
• to write the distance formula $\vec{r}-\vec{r'}$ in both the numerator and denominator of the Biot-Savart Law in an appropriate mix of cylindrical coordinates and rectangular basis vectors;
The Magnetic Field Due to a Spinning Ring of Charge
1. Use the Biot-Savart law $\vec{B}(\vec{r}) =\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int\frac{\vec{J}(\vec{r}^{\,\prime})\times \left(\vec{r}-\vec{r}^{\,\prime}\right)}{\vert \vec{r}-\vec{r}^{\,\prime}\vert^3} \, d\tau^{\prime}$ to find the magnetic field everywhere in space due to a spinning charged ring with radius $R$, total charge $Q$, and period $T$.
2. Evaluate your expression for the special case that $\vec{r}$ is on the $z$-axis.
3. Evaluate your expression for the special case that $\vec{r}$ is on the $x$-axis.
4. Find a series expansion for the electrostatic potential at these special locations:
1. Near the center of the ring, in the plane of the ring;
2. Near the center of the ring, on the axis of the ring;
3. Far from the ring on the axis of symmetry;
4. Far from the ring, in the plane of the ring.
• group Magnetic Vector Potential Due to a Spinning Charged Ring

group Small Group Activity

30 min.

##### Magnetic Vector Potential Due to a Spinning Charged Ring
Static Fields 2023 (6 years)

Power Series Sequence (E&M)

Ring Cycle Sequence

Students work in small groups to use the superposition principle $\vec{A}(\vec{r}) =\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\int\frac{\vec{J}(\vec{r}^{\,\prime})}{\vert \vec{r}-\vec{r}^{\,\prime}\vert}\, d\tau^{\prime}$ to find an integral expression for the magnetic vector potential, $\vec{A}(\vec{r})$, due to a spinning ring of charge.

In an optional extension, students find a series expansion for $\vec{A}(\vec{r})$ either on the axis or in the plane of the ring, for either small or large values of the relevant geometric variable. Add an extra half hour or more to the time estimate for the optional extension.

• group Static Fields Equation Sheet

group Small Group Activity

5 min.

##### Static Fields Equation Sheet
Static Fields 2023 (5 years)
• group Electrostatic Potential Due to a Ring of Charge

group Small Group Activity

30 min.

##### Electrostatic Potential Due to a Ring of Charge
Static Fields 2023 (8 years)

Power Series Sequence (E&M)

Warm-Up

Ring Cycle Sequence

Students work in small groups to use the superposition principle $V(\vec{r}) =\frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\int\frac{\rho(\vec{r}^{\,\prime})}{\vert \vec{r}-\vec{r}^{\,\prime}\vert} \, d\tau^{\prime}$ to find an integral expression for the electrostatic potential, $V(\vec{r})$, everywhere in space, due to a ring of charge.

In an optional extension, students find a series expansion for $V(\vec{r})$ either on the axis or in the plane of the ring, for either small or large values of the relevant geometric variable. Add an extra half hour or more to the time estimate for the optional extension.

• group Electrostatic Potential Due to a Pair of Charges (with Series)

group Small Group Activity

60 min.

##### Electrostatic Potential Due to a Pair of Charges (with Series)
Static Fields 2023 (6 years)

Power Series Sequence (E&M)

Ring Cycle Sequence

Students work in small groups to use the superposition principle $V(\vec{r}) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\sum_i \frac{q_i}{\vert\vec{r}-\vec{r}_i\vert}$ to find the electrostatic potential $V$ everywhere in space due to a pair of charges (either identical charges or a dipole). Different groups are assigned different arrangements of charges and different regions of space to consider: either on the axis of the charges or in the plane equidistant from the two charges, for either small or large values of the relevant geometric variable. Each group is asked to find a power series expansion for the electrostatic potential, valid in their group's assigned region of space. The whole class wrap-up discussion then compares and contrasts the results and discuss the symmetries of the two cases.
• assignment Fourier Transform of Cosine and Sine

assignment Homework

##### Fourier Transform of Cosine and Sine
Periodic Systems 2022
1. Find the Fourier transforms of $f(x)=\cos kx$ and $g(x)=\sin kx$.
2. Find the Fourier transform of $g(x)$ using the formula for the Fourier transform of a derivative and your result for the Fourier transform of $f(x)$. Compare with your previous answer.
3. In quantum mechanics, the Fourier transform is the set of coefficients in the expansion of a quantum state in terms of plane waves, i.e. the function $\tilde{f}(k)$ is a continuous histogram of how much each functions $e^{ikx}$ contributes to the quantum state. What does the Fourier transform of the function $\cos kx$ tell you about which plane waves make up this quantum state? Write a sentence or two about how this makes sense.
• accessibility_new The Distance Formula (Star Trek)

accessibility_new Kinesthetic

30 min.

##### The Distance Formula (Star Trek)
Static Fields 2023 (6 years)

Ring Cycle Sequence

A short improvisational role-playing skit based on the Star Trek series in which students explore the definition and notation for position vectors, the importance of choosing an origin, and the geometric nature of the distance formula. $\vert\vec{r}-\vec{r}^\prime\vert=\sqrt{(x-x^\prime)^2+(y-y^\prime)^2-(z-z^\prime)^2}$
• assignment Events on Spacetime Diagrams

assignment Homework

##### Events on Spacetime Diagrams
Special Relativity Spacetime Diagram Simultaneity Colocation Theoretical Mechanics (4 years)
1. Which pairs of events (if any) are simultaneous in the unprimed frame?

2. Which pairs of events (if any) are simultaneous in the primed frame?

3. Which pairs of events (if any) are colocated in the unprimed frame?

4. Which pairs of events (if any) are colocated in the primed frame?

1. For each of the figures, answer the following questions:
1. Which event occurs first in the unprimed frame?

2. Which event occurs first in the primed frame?

• group Events on Spacetime Diagrams

group Small Group Activity

5 min.

##### Events on Spacetime Diagrams
Theoretical Mechanics 2021

Students practice identifying whether events on spacetime diagrams are simultaneous, colocated, or neither for different observers. Then students decide which of two events occurs first in two different reference frames.
• group Electrostatic Potential Due to a Pair of Charges (without Series)

group Small Group Activity

30 min.

##### Electrostatic Potential Due to a Pair of Charges (without Series)
Static Fields 2023 (4 years) Students work in small groups to use the superposition principle $V(\vec{r}) = \frac{1}{4\pi\epsilon_0}\sum_i \frac{q_i}{\vert\vec{r}-\vec{r}_i\vert}$ to find the electrostatic potential $V$ everywhere in space due to a pair of charges (either identical charges or a dipole). This activity can be paired with activity 29 to find the limiting cases of the potential on the axes of symmetry.
• assignment Linear Quadrupole (w/o series)

assignment Homework

Static Fields 2023 (4 years) Consider a collection of three charges arranged in a line along the $z$-axis: charges $+Q$ at $z=\pm D$ and charge $-2Q$ at $z=0$.
1. Find the electrostatic potential at a point $\vec{r}$ on the $x$-axis at a distance $x$ from the center of the quadrupole.