2003 AIPMT Moving Charges and MagnetismMagnetic Field of a Solenoid Easy Question 3 of 3 in Magnetic Field of a Solenoid

A long solenoid carrying a current produces a magnetic field B along its axis. If the current is doubled and the number of turns per cm is halved, the new value of the magnetic field is -

A $\dfrac{B}{2}$
B B
C 2B
D 4B

The answer is B.

Solution

Magnetic field inside a long solenoid: $B = \mu_0 n i$, where n is the number of turns per unit length.
New values: $n' = \dfrac{n}{2}$, $i' = 2i$
$B' = \mu_0 n' i' = \mu_0 \cdot \dfrac{n}{2} \cdot 2i = \mu_0 n i = B$
So the magnetic field remains B.

Concept B = mu0 n i

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid in past papers

3 questions from this chapter have appeared across 3 exam years.