Do First - What Affects the Strength of a Magnetic Field Around a Current?

Last updated over 1 year ago

6 questions

What affects the strength of a magnetic field around a current?

Are all magnetic forces around electric charges the same? You know you can increase a current by increasing the voltage of the wire or by using a more conductive material. Does this affect the magnetic field that the wire produces? Are there other ways to increase the magnetic field surrounding a current-carrying wire? Let's find out!

Do First - What Affects the Strength of a Magnetic Field Around a Current?

Last updated over 1 year ago

6 questions

Moving Charges and Magnetic Fields

A magnetic field surrounds an electric current. This is why a compass needle moves when placed near a current-carrying wire. The needle moves because the magnetic field around the wire applies a force to the compass needle. The magnetic field can also be seen with iron fillings.

A magnetic field actually surrounds all moving charged particles. the combined magnetic fields of the flowing charges in a current-carrying wire combine to produce a magnetic field around the wire. IF the current is turned off, the charged particles in the wire stop moving. Because only moving charged particles have a magnetic field, they stop moving when the magnetic field goes away.

The magnetic field around a wire is perpendicular to the current. This is seen a s concentric circles around the wire. If a compass was held parallel to the wire, it would not respond to the magnetic field produced by the wire. The magnetic field is strongest close to the wire. The farther away the wire, the weaker the magnetic field becomes.

What affects the strength of a magnetic field around a current?

Are all magnetic forces around electric charges the same? You know you can increase a current by increasing the voltage of the wire or by using a more conductive material. Does this affect the magnetic field that the wire produces? Are there other ways to increase the magnetic field surrounding a current-carrying wire? Let's find out!

Click on the electromagnet tab. Click "Reset All".

Use this link if the simulation is too small:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html?simulation=magnets-and-electromagnets

Click the "Show field meter". All of the boxes should now be checked. Look at the field meter. Move the Field Meter around the screen. The reading B illustrates the magnetic field strength. Complete the statement below to describe the strength of the magnetic field near the wire coils. 

The closer the wire coils, the__________ the magnetic field.

Place the electric field meter near the electromagnet, next to the loops. Then reduce the number of loops and watch what happens to the strength of the magnetic field as you decrease it from 4 loops, to 3 loops, to 2 loops to 1 loops. What did you observe?

When loops are decreased, __________. When loops are increased in an electromagnet, __________.

What did you discover about electromagnets during this exercise? Describe what increases and decreases the strength of an electromagnet in your own words.

Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences

Do First - What Affects the Strength of a Magnetic Field Around a Current?

Do First - What Affects the Strength of a Magnetic Field Around a Current?

Click on the electromagnet tab. Click "Reset All".Use this link if the simulation is too small:https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html?simulation=magnets-and-electromagnets

What did you discover about electromagnets during this exercise? Describe what increases and decreases the strength of an electromagnet in your own words. Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences

Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences

Click on the electromagnet tab. Click "Reset All".Use this link if the simulation is too small:https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html?simulation=magnets-and-electromagnets

What did you discover about electromagnets during this exercise? Describe what increases and decreases the strength of an electromagnet in your own words. Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences

Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences

Click on the electromagnet tab. Click "Reset All".

Use this link if the simulation is too small:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html?simulation=magnets-and-electromagnets

What did you discover about electromagnets during this exercise? Describe what increases and decreases the strength of an electromagnet in your own words.

Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences

Click on the electromagnet tab. Click "Reset All".

Use this link if the simulation is too small:
https://phet.colorado.edu/sims/cheerpj/faraday/latest/faraday.html?simulation=magnets-and-electromagnets

What did you discover about electromagnets during this exercise? Describe what increases and decreases the strength of an electromagnet in your own words.

Your Answer Must Be In Full Sentences