Electricity & Magnetism: Magnetic Fields

Determine the relationship between the magnetic field strength of a coil and the current within the coil.

Lab Summary:

Students will use a Magnetic Field Sensor and a Voltage/Current Sensor, to observe and investigate Biot-Savart's Law for a coil. By controlling the current of the coil, students will discover the linear relationship between current and the induced magnetic field.

Download Free Lab (PDF, 584 KB)

(student version)

Method:

Use a Voltage-Current Sensor and a Magnetic Field Sensor to measure the current in a coil of wire and the magnetic field in the coil of wire. Compare the strength of the field to the current.

Here's What You Need:

Probeware

• PASPORT Voltage-Current Sensor (PS-2115)
• PASPORT Magnetic Field Sensor (PS-2112)
• Xplorer GLX Graphing Datalogger (PS-2002)
  (or alternate PASPORT interface -- see other options)

Other Materials

• Clamp, Buret (SE-9446)
• Power Supply (18 VDC, 5 A ) (SE-9720A)
• Patch Cords, 4 mm, Red (5) (SE-9750)
• Large Rod Base (ME-8735)
• Wire, magnet 22 AWG (712-029)
• Rod, 45 cm (18") Plated, 1/2" dia. (ME-8736)
• Coil, 400 Turn (SF-8610)
• Tape - 1 in

Lab Manual:

This activity is included in Explorations in Physics (PS-2810), complete with Teacher Information pages, student instructions and handouts, and sample data for a total of 25 probeware-based labs. For your convenience, we offer bundles which provide the probeware necessary for the activities in the manual. For more information on these resources and bundles, click here.