[Math] Help with polar coordinates for physics problem

physicspolar coordinates

I need to solve a physics problem but don't know about polar coordinates properly, can anybody help with it?

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Suppose a curve which is a current carrying wire:
$$r=\frac a{cos\theta(1+\sin^2\theta)}$$

Now magnetic field due an diffrential element of wire at origin is:
$$dB=k\frac{dl\sin\phi}{r^2}\text{ where }k=\frac{\mu_0i}{4\pi}\text{ which is a constant and }\phi\\\text{ the angle between the tangent at that point and the radius vector of that point}$$

Now I convert the equation as:
$$rcos\theta=\frac{r^2}{a(r^2+r^2\sin^2\theta)}\implies x=\frac{x^2+y^2}{a(x^2+2y^2)}$$
and I find $\frac{dy}{dx}=tan\phi$

Now put $dl=rd\theta$ and find:
$$B=\int dB$$

But it is long and practically unsolvable method, I also don't know tangents in polar coordinates.Can somebody tell a good way I must use?

Best Answer

As per Biot-Savart's law, magnetic field due to a small element is: $$dB=\frac{\mu_0}{4\pi}\frac{i\vec{dl}\times \hat{r}}{r^2}$$ Notice that in polar coordinates, $\vec{dl}=dr\hat{r}+r\,d\theta \hat{\theta}$ i.e $$\vec{dl}\times \hat{r}=-r\,d\theta \hat{z}$$ where $\hat{z}$ is the direction pointing out of the plane. $$\Rightarrow \vec{B}=\frac{\mu_0 i}{4\pi} \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2} \frac{-r\,d\theta}{r^2}\,\hat{z}$$ $$\begin{aligned} \Rightarrow \left|\vec{B}\right| &=\frac{\mu_0 i}{4\pi} \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2} \frac{d\theta}{r}=\frac{\mu_0 i}{4a\pi} \int_{-\pi/2}^{\pi/2} \cos\theta(1+\sin^2\theta)\,d\theta\\ &=\frac{\mu_0 i}{4a\pi}\int_{-1}^1 (1+t^2)\,dt\,\,\,\,(\sin\theta=t) \\ &=\boxed{\dfrac{2}{3}\dfrac{\mu_0 i}{a\pi}} \\ \end{aligned}$$

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