Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Biot-Savart's law gives us the expression for the magnetic field

Question

Given below are two statements:
Statement I: Biot-Savart's law gives us the expression for the magnetic field strength of an infinitesimal current element (Idl) of a current-carrying conductor only.
Statement II: Biot-Savart's law is analogous to Coulomb's inverse square law of charge q, with the former being related to the field produced by a scalar source, (Idl) while the latter being produced by a vector source, q.

Accepted Answer

1.  **Analyze Statement I:** Biot-Savart's law mathematically defines the magnetic field $d\mathbf{B}$ produced *only* by an infinitesimal current element $I d\mathbf{l}$. To find the field of a finite conductor, one must apply the principle of superposition (integration). Thus, the statement describes the law correctly. **Statement I is Correct.**
2.  **Analyze Statement II:** The statement compares the sources of the fields.
    *   **Coulomb's Law:** The source is electric charge $q$. Charge is a **scalar** quantity.
    *   **Biot-Savart's Law:** The source is the current element $I d\mathbf{l}$. Because it has direction (along the tangent to the conductor), the current element is a **vector** quantity.
    *   **Comparison:** Statement II claims $Idl$ is scalar and $q$ is vector. This is the reverse of the truth. **Statement II is Incorrect.**
3.  **Conclusion:** Statement I is correct, but Statement II is incorrect .

Step-by-Step Solution

Practice All PHYSICS Questions