Finding the direction of the magnetic field created by a current-carrying wire, with introduction to the right hand rule and a demo of a compass needle responding to the current through a wire.

Forces felt by two parallel current carrying wires, when the currents are in the same or in opposite directions. Includes a demonstration of these forces.

Finding the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at the center of a loop of current, with comparison to a dipole field.

Using iron filings to view the magnetic field lines near a current-carrying wire and a loop of current.

Statement; field of current-carrying wire and sheet; units; divergence of B and interpretation.

Worked example using the Biot-Savart Law to calculate the magnetic field due to a linear segment of a current-carrying wire or an infinite current-carrying wire.

Uses Biot-Savart Law to determine the magnetic force between two parallel infinite current-carrying wires.

Determine the magnetic field along the axis between two infinite wires and determine where the field is the greatest. Solution is included after problem.

Describe the application of Biot-Savart and Ampere's Laws; characterize magnetic attraction or repulsion between steady current configurations.

Use Ampere's Law to find the magnetic field due to an infinitely long current-carrying wire; then calculate a circulation involving eight infinite currents and discuss the utility of Ampere's Law.

Find the magnetic field at the center of a square configuration of four infinitely long current-carrying wires.

Do two parallel current-carrying wires attract or repel one another?

Finding the magnetic field at points outside and in the plane of the ribbon.

Solution (PDF)

Explaining in words why parallel currents attract and antiparallel currents repel.

Solution (PDF)

Finding magnetic field using geometry from an arrangement of current-carrying wires.

Solution (PDF)

Finding field of one loop and force exerted on the other.

Solution (PDF)

Finding field of one loop and force exerted on the other.

Solution (PDF)

Applet showing the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field created by a small segment of current.

Applet demonstrating the method if integrating around a ring of current to find the magnetic field at a point above the ring.

Applet showing the magnitude and direction of the magnetic field at any point in or around a ring of current.

Video animation showing the magnetic field and behavior of two wires with current flowing in the same direction.

Video animation showing the magnetic field and behavior of two wires with current flowing in different directions.

Video animation showing the magnetic field and attraction of two coaxial wire loops with current flowing in the same direction.

Video animation showing the magnetic field and behavior of two coaxial wire loops with current flowing in different directions.

Video animation showing the magnetic field generated by a Helmholtz Coil when the two coils have current flowing in the same direction (magnetic dipole moments aligned).

Video animation showing the magnetic field generated by a Helmholtz Coil when the two coils have current flowing in different directions (magnetic dipole moments anti-aligned).

Interactive applet showing the magnetic field created by two rings with variable position, orientation, size, and current.

Interactive applet simulating the magnetic field and interactions of a current-carrying wire and a compass needle.