ABSTRACT
This chapter develops the concepts pertaining to the steady magnetic fields in gradual manner. This chapter first talks about magnets, their fields and their types, compares magnetic field with electric field, studies the properties of magnetic lines of force, and defines various terms related to magnetic fields. It goes on to discuss the steady magnetic field laws including those of Biot-Savart and Ampère. It includes the statements of these laws, describes their mathematical forms, and evaluates magnetic field intensities due to differential current elements and due to infinitely long conductors. This ultimately leads to Ampère’s law in point form and a Maxwell’s equation related with the magnetostatic field. The chapter also discusses some applications of these field laws which include the field due to a magnetic dipole, an infinite current sheet, a coaxial cable, a solenoid, and a toroid. It describes various aspects of scalar and vector magnetic potentials. It includes their defining relations, their mathematical descriptions, and their nature vis-à-vis the Laplace and Poisson equations. This chapter also discusses the verification of these steady magnetic field laws.
