Magnetic field of wires
Magnetic field of wires is an interactive experiment in Electric & Magnetic Fields, a free simulation from StudyFi Lab that runs right in your browser.
A straight wire carrying current I is perpendicular to the screen: ⊙ means the current flows out towards you, ⊗ means it flows in. Around it the magnetic field lines are concentric circles and the field strength is B = μ₀·I/(2π·r). The right-hand rule gives the direction: thumb along the current, fingers curl along the field. The fields of two wires add up as vectors, and the compass needles turn along the total field.
Try this: Turn on the second wire with the same current in the same direction and put the probe halfway between them — the field cancels there. Then reverse one current.
Frequently asked questions
What does the “Magnetic field of wires” experiment show?
A straight wire carrying current I is perpendicular to the screen: ⊙ means the current flows out towards you, ⊗ means it flows in. Around it the magnetic field lines are concentric circles and the field strength is B = μ₀·I/(2π·r). The right-hand rule gives the direction: thumb along the current, fingers curl along the field. The fields of two wires add up as vectors, and the compass needles turn along the total field.
How do I try “Magnetic field of wires”?
Turn on the second wire with the same current in the same direction and put the probe halfway between them — the field cancels there. Then reverse one current.
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