Join 60,000+ competitive exam aspirants
How does the magnetic field strength at the center of a circular loop change if the radius of the loop is doubled while keeping the current constant?
It becomes double
It becomes half
It remains the same
It becomes four times
It becomes half
The magnetic field strength at the center of a circular current-carrying loop is inversely proportional to its radius. Therefore, when the radius of the loop is doubled while keeping the current constant, the magnetic field strength becomes half of its initial value.
The magnetic field strength at the center of a circular current-carrying loop is inversely proportional to its radius. Therefore, when the radius of the loop is doubled while keeping the current constant, the magnetic field strength becomes half of its initial value.
Think of the warmth from a circular heating coil: the closer you are to the center or the smaller the loop, the more concentrated and intense the field or heat is. If you spread that same electrical current over a wider, doubled radius, the magnetic influence at the center gets stretched out and weakens by half.
B over R (B varies inversely with R)
B=2R╬╝0тАЛIтАЛ тАФ Magnetic field at the center of a circular loop
BтИЭR1тАЛ тАФ Inverse proportionality between magnetic field and radius
According to the Biot-Savart law applied to a circular loop, the magnetic field B at the center is given by the formula B=2R╬╝0тАЛIтАЛ. Since the magnetic field is inversely proportional to the radius R (BтИЭR1тАЛ), doubling the radius (RтА▓=2R) results in the magnetic field being halved (BтА▓=2BтАЛ), provided the current I remains constant.
The magnetic field at the center of a circular coil depends directly on the current flowing through it.
The magnetic field is inversely proportional to the radius of the circular loop.
Doubling the radius reduces the magnetic field strength by a factor of 2.
Design of galvanometers and electromagnetic coils
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) gradient coil considerations
╬╝0тАЛ represents the permeability of free space, having a standard value of 4╧А├Ч10тИТ7┬аTтЛЕm/A.
Option A is incorrect because doubling the radius decreases the field, it does not double it.
Option C is incorrect because the field changes as the radius changes.
Option D is incorrect because a fourfold change would occur if the radius were halved or if squared relationships were involved.
B is correct тАФ The magnetic field at the center of a circular loop is inversely proportional to its radius, so doubling the radius halves the magnetic field strength.
Always identify whether variables are directly or inversely proportional in electromagnetic formulas to quickly solve ratio-based MCQ problems in competitive exams.