Magnetic field outside a straight conductor

Principle

A current which flows through one or two neighbouring straight conductors produces a magnetic field around them. The dependences of these magnetic fields on the distance from the conductor and on the current are determined.

Benefits

• Four different current conductors allow the observation of the magnetic field in different configurations
• Experimental setup allows the visualization of the Maxwell Equations
• No extra calibration needed, Teslameter is calibrated  up to 1 T

Tasks

Determination of the magnetic field

1. of a straight conductor as a function of the current,
2. of a straight conductor as a function of the distance from the conductor,
3. of two parallel conductors, in which the current is flowing in the same direction, as a function of the distance from one conductor on the line joining the two conductors,
4. of two parallel conductors, in which the current is flowing in opposite directions, as a function of the distance from one conductor on the line joining the two conductors.

Learning objectives

• Maxwell's equations
• Magnetic flux
• Induction
• Superimposition of magnetic fields
• Alternating current