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Magnetic Fields

Magnetic Fields

A moving charge or a current creates a magnetic field in the surrounding space, in addition to its electric field. The magnetic field exerts a force on any other moving charge or current that is present in the field. Like an electric field, the magnetic field is also a vector field. At any position, the direction of the magnetic field is defined as the direction in which the north pole of a compass needle points.
A magnetic field is defined by the force that a charged particle experiences...

Magnetic Field Lines

Magnetic Field Lines

The representation of magnetic fields by magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the strength and direction of the magnetic field. Each of the magnetic field lines forms a closed loop. The field lines emerge from the north pole (N), loop around to the south pole (S), and continue through the bar magnet back to the north pole.
Magnetic field lines follow several hard-and-fast rules:

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid

Magnetic Field of a Solenoid

A solenoid is a conducting wire coated with an insulating material, wound tightly in the form of a helical coil. The magnetic field due to a solenoid is the vector sum of the magnetic fields due to its individual turns. Therefore, for an ideal solenoid, the magnetic field within the solenoid is directly proportional to the number of turns per unit length and the current. Conversely, the magnetic field outside the solenoid is zero.
Consider a solenoid with 100 turns wrapped around a cylinder of...

Magnetic Flux

Magnetic Flux

The magnetic flux measures the number of magnetic field lines passing through a given surface area. The SI unit for magnetic flux is the weber (Wb). Magnetic flux is a scalar quantity. It depends on three factors: the strength of the magnetic field B, the area through which the field lines pass, and the relative orientation of the field with the surface area.
Suppose a surface is divided into elements of area dA. For each element, the component of the magnetic field that is normal to the...

Magnetism

Magnetism

Magnets are commonly found in everyday objects, such as toys, hangers, elevators, doorbells, and computer devices. Experimentation on these magnets shows that all magnets have two poles: one is labeled north (N) and the other south (S). Magnetic poles repel if they are alike and attract if unlike. Moreover, both poles of a magnet attract unmagnetized pieces of iron.
An individual magnetic pole cannot be isolated. No matter how small, every piece of a magnet contains a north pole and a south...

Magnetic Field Due To A Thin Straight Wire

Magnetic Field Due To A Thin Straight Wire

Consider an infinitely long straight wire carrying a current I. The magnetic field at point P at a distance a from the origin can be calculated using the Biot-Savart law.

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Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 21, 2026

Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields

Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields

Published on: July 8, 2016

The Sun's global magnetic field.

Duncan H Mackay¹

¹School of Mathematics and Statistics, University of St Andrews, Fife, UK. duncan@mcs.st-and.ac.uk

Philosophical Transactions. Series A, Mathematical, Physical, and Engineering Sciences

|June 6, 2012

Summary

This study reviews solar and stellar magnetic field research, covering observational data and theoretical models. It highlights advancements in measuring stellar magnetic fields and simulating solar magnetic flux transport for future research.

Area of Science:

Astrophysics
Solar Physics
Stellar Physics

Background:

Current understanding of solar and stellar magnetic fields relies on both observational data and theoretical frameworks.
Measuring magnetic fields on the Sun and other stars presents unique challenges and has seen recent advancements.

Purpose of the Study:

To provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of knowledge regarding solar and stellar magnetic fields.
To discuss observational techniques and theoretical models used in the study of these magnetic fields.
To identify key areas for future research in solar and stellar magnetism.

Main Methods:

Review of observational data for the Sun's large-scale magnetic field.
Description of techniques for measuring magnetic field spatial distribution on other stars.

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 21, 2026

Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields

Enhancement of the Initial Growth Rate of Agricultural Plants by Using Static Magnetic Fields

Published on: July 8, 2016

Discussion of magnetic flux transport models for photospheric fields and methods for deducing coronal magnetic fields.

Main Results:

Advances in measuring stellar magnetic fields and simulating solar photospheric magnetic fields.
Application and comparison of models to solar phenomena like open flux, filaments, and coronal mass ejections.
Developments in steady-state global magnetohydrodynamic models.

Conclusions:

A synthesis of observational and theoretical approaches to solar and stellar magnetic fields is presented.
The study underscores the progress made in modeling and observing magnetic phenomena.
Future research directions are identified to further our understanding of magnetic fields in stars.