LINKS
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/magnetic-forces-and-magnetic-fields/magnetic-fi
eld-current-carrying-wire/a/what-are-magnetic-fields
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/magfie.html
https://www.britannica.com/science/magnetic-field
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/physics/magnetic-forces-and-magnetic-fields/magnetic-fi
eld-current-carrying-wire/a/what-are-magnetic-fields
What is a magnetic field?
A magnetic field is a picture that we use as a tool to describe how the magnetic force is
distributed in the space around and within something magnetic.
When we speak of the force due to a magnet (or any force for that matter) it has to be on
something. Strictly speaking, a force vector field tells us the magnitude and direction of a force
on a small test particle at any point.
With the electric force, the small test particle we use is the electron. It turns out that there is no
equivalent particle for the magnetic force. The term magnetic monopole is given to such a
particle. As far as we know, magnetic monopoles don't exist in nature and all magnetic field
sources are dipolar.
Most of us are familiar with everyday magnetic objects and recognize that there can be forces
between them. We understand that magnets have two poles and that depending on the
orientation of two magnets there can be an attraction (opposite poles) or repulsion (similar
poles). We recognize that there is some region extending around a magnet where this happens.
The magnetic field describes this region.
2 ways magnetic field is illustrated:
1. The magnetic field is described mathematically as a vector field. This vector field can be
plotted directly as a set of many vectors drawn on a grid. Each vector points in the direction that
a compass would point and has a length dependent on the strength of the magnetic force.
[Explain compasses] Arranging many small compasses in a grid pattern and placing the grid in
a magnetic field illustrates this technique. The only difference here is that a compass doesn't
indicate the strength of a field.
2. An alternative way to represent the information contained within a vector field is with the use
of field lines. Here we dispense with the grid pattern and connect the vectors with smooth lines.
We can draw as many lines as we want.
Useful properties:
- Magnetic field lines never cross.
- Magnetic field lines naturally bunch together in regions where the magnetic field is the
strongest. This means that the density of field lines indicates the strength of the field.
- Magnetic field lines don't start or stop anywhere, they always make closed loops and will
continue inside a magnetic material (though sometimes they are not drawn this way).
- We require a way to indicate the direction of the field. This is usually done by drawing
arrowheads along the lines. Sometimes arrowheads are not drawn and the direction must be
indicated in some other way. For historical reasons, the convention is to label one region 'north'
and another 'south' and draw field lines only from these 'poles'. The field is assumed to follow
the lines from north to south. 'N' and 'S' labels are usually placed on the ends of a magnetic field
source, although strictly this is arbitrary and there is nothing special about these locations.
[Explain the magnetic field of the Earth]
- Field lines can be visualized quite easily in the real world. This is commonly done with iron
filings dropped on a surface near something magnetic. Each filing behaves like a tiny magnet
with a north and south pole. The filings naturally separate from each other because similar poles
repel each other. The result is a pattern that resembles field lines. While the general pattern will
always be the same, the exact position and density of lines of filings depend on how the filings
happened to fall, their size, and their magnetic properties.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/magfie.html
Magnetic fields are produced by electric currents, which can be macroscopic currents in wires,
or microscopic currents associated with electrons in atomic orbits. The magnetic field B is
defined in terms of force on moving charge in the Lorentz force law. The interaction of magnetic
field with charge leads to many practical applications. Magnetic field sources are essentially
dipolar in nature, having a north and south magnetic pole. The SI unit for magnetic field is the
Tesla, which can be seen from the magnetic part of the Lorentz force law Fmagnetic = qvB to be
composed of (Newton x second)/(Coulomb x meter). A smaller magnetic field unit is the Gauss
(1 Tesla = 10,000 Gauss).
