A magnetic field is the magnetic effect of electric currents and magnetic materials.

The
magnetic field at any given point is specified by both a direction and a magnitude (or strength);
as such it is a vector field.[nb 1] The term is used for two distinct but closely related fields denoted
by the symbols B and H, where H is measured in units of amperes per meter (symbol: Am1 or
A/m) in the SI. B is measured in teslas (symbol:T) and newtons per meter per ampere (symbol:
Nm1A1 or N/(mA)) in the SI. B is most commonly defined in terms of the Lorentz force it
exerts on moving electric charges.

Magnetic fields can be produced by moving electric charges and the intrinsic magnetic moments
of elementary particles associated with a fundamental quantum property, their spin.[1][2] In
special relativity, electric and magnetic fields are two interrelated aspects of a single object,
called the electromagnetic tensor; the split of this tensor into electric and magnetic fields depends
on the relative velocity of the observer and charge. In quantum physics, the electromagnetic field
is quantized and electromagnetic interactions result from the exchange of photons.

In everyday life, magnetic fields are most often encountered as a force created by permanent
magnets, which pull on ferromagnetic materials such as iron, cobalt, or nickel, and attract or
repel other magnets. Magnetic fields are widely used throughout modern technology, particularly
in electrical engineering and electromechanics. The Earth produces its own magnetic field, which
is important in navigation, and it shields the Earth's atmosphere from solar wind. Rotating
magnetic fields are used in both electric motors and generators. Magnetic forces give information
about the charge carriers in a material through the Hall effect. The interaction of magnetic fields
in electric devices such as transformers is studied in the discipline of magnetic circuits.

Magnetic field of an ideal cylindrical magnet with its axis of symmetry inside the image plane.
The magnetic field is represented by magnetic field lines, which show the direction of the field at
different points.

History
Main article: History of electromagnetic theory
One of the first drawings of a magnetic field, by Ren Descartes, 1644. It illustrated his theory
that magnetism was caused by the circulation of tiny helical particles, "threaded parts", through
threaded pores in magnets.

Although magnets and magnetism were known much earlier, the study of magnetic fields began
in 1269 when French scholar Petrus Peregrinus de Maricourt mapped out the magnetic field on
the surface of a spherical magnet using iron needles.[nb 2] Noting that the resulting field lines
crossed at two points he named those points 'poles' in analogy to Earth's poles. He also clearly
articulated the principle that magnets always have both a north and south pole, no matter how
finely one slices them.

Almost three centuries later, William Gilbert of Colchester replicated Petrus Peregrinus' work
and was the first to state explicitly that Earth is a magnet.[3] Published in 1600, Gilbert's work,
De Magnete, helped to establish magnetism as a science.

In 1750, John Michell stated that magnetic poles attract and repel in accordance with an inverse
square law.[4] Charles-Augustin de Coulomb experimentally verified this in 1785 and stated
explicitly that the north and south poles cannot be separated.[5] Building on this force between
poles, Simon Denis Poisson (17811840) created the first successful model of the magnetic
field, which he presented in 1824.[6] In this model, a magnetic H-field is produced by 'magnetic
poles' and magnetism is due to small pairs of north/south magnetic poles.
Hans Christian rsted, Der Geist in der Natur, 1854

Three discoveries challenged this foundation of magnetism, though. First, in 1819, Hans
Christian rsted discovered that an electric current generates a magnetic field encircling it. Then
in 1820, Andr-Marie Ampre showed that parallel wires having currents in the same direction
attract one another. Finally, Jean-Baptiste Biot and Flix Savart discovered the BiotSavart law
in 1820, which correctly predicts the magnetic field around any current-carrying wire.

Extending these experiments, Ampre published his own successful model of magnetism in
1825. In it, he showed the equivalence of electrical currents to magnets[7] and proposed that
magnetism is due to perpetually flowing loops of current instead of the dipoles of magnetic
charge in Poisson's model.[nb 3] This has the additional benefit of explaining why magnetic charge
can not be isolated. Further, Ampre derived both Ampre's force law describing the force
between two currents and Ampre's law, which, like the BiotSavart law, correctly described the
magnetic field generated by a steady current. Also in this work, Ampre introduced the term
electrodynamics to describe the relationship between electricity and magnetism.

In 1831, Michael Faraday discovered electromagnetic induction when he found that a changing
magnetic field generates an encircling electric field. He described this phenomenon in what is
known as Faraday's law of induction. Later, Franz Ernst Neumann proved that, for a moving
conductor in a magnetic field, induction is a consequence of Ampre's force law.[8] In the process
he introduced the magnetic vector potential, which was later shown to be equivalent to the
underlying mechanism proposed by Faraday.

In 1850, Lord Kelvin, then known as William Thomson, distinguished between two magnetic
fields now denoted H and B. The former applied to Poisson's model and the latter to Ampre's
model and induction.[9] Further, he derived how H and B relate to each other.
The reason H and B are used for the two magnetic fields has been a source of some debate
among science historians. Most agree that Kelvin avoided M to prevent confusion with the SI
fundamental unit of length, the Metre, abbreviated "m". Others believe the choices were purely
random.[10][11]

Between 1861 and 1865, James Clerk Maxwell developed and published Maxwell's equations,
which explained and united all of classical electricity and magnetism. The first set of these
equations was published in a paper entitled On Physical Lines of Force in 1861. These equations
were valid although incomplete. Maxwell completed his set of equations in his later 1865 paper
A Dynamical Theory of the Electromagnetic Field and demonstrated the fact that light is an
electromagnetic wave. Heinrich Hertz experimentally confirmed this fact in 1887.

The twentieth century extended electrodynamics to include relativity and quantum mechanics.
Albert Einstein, in his paper of 1905 that established relativity, showed that both the electric and
magnetic fields are part of the same phenomena viewed from different reference frames. (See
moving magnet and conductor problem for details about the thought experiment that eventually
helped Albert Einstein to develop special relativity.) Finally, the emergent field of quantum
mechanics was merged with electrodynamics to form quantum electrodynamics (QED).

Magnetic field lines

Main article: Field line

Compasses reveal the direction of the local magnetic field. As seen here, the magnetic field points
towards a magnet's south pole and away from its north pole.

Mapping the magnetic field of an object is simple in principle. First, measure the strength and
direction of the magnetic field at a large number of locations (or at every point in space). Then,
mark each location with an arrow (called a vector) pointing in the direction of the local magnetic
field with its magnitude proportional to the strength of the magnetic field.
An alternative method to map the magnetic field is to 'connect' the arrows to form magnetic field
lines. The direction of the magnetic field at any point is parallel to the direction of nearby field
lines, and the local density of field lines can be made proportional to its strength.

Magnetic field lines are like the contour lines (constant altitude) on a topographic map in that
they represent something continuous, and a different mapping scale would show more or fewer
lines. An advantage of using magnetic field lines as a representation is that many laws of
magnetism (and electromagnetism) can be stated completely and concisely using simple
concepts such as the 'number' of field lines through a surface. These concepts can be quickly
'translated' to their mathematical form. For example, the number of field lines through a given
surface is the surface integral of the magnetic field.

The direction of magnetic field lines represented by the alignment of iron filings sprinkled on paper
placed above a bar magnet.

Various phenomena have the effect of "displaying" magnetic field lines as though the field lines
are physical phenomena. For example, iron filings placed in a magnetic field line up to form
lines that correspond to 'field lines'.[nb 7] Magnetic fields' "lines" are also visually displayed in
polar auroras, in which plasma particle dipole interactions create visible streaks of light that line
up with the local direction of Earth's magnetic field.

Field lines can be used as a qualitative tool to visualize magnetic forces. In ferromagnetic
substances like iron and in plasmas, magnetic forces can be understood by imagining that the
field lines exert a tension, (like a rubber band) along their length, and a pressure perpendicular to
their length on neighboring field lines. 'Unlike' poles of magnets attract because they are linked
by many field lines; 'like' poles repel because their field lines do not meet, but run parallel,
pushing on each other. The rigorous form of this concept is the electromagnetic stressenergy
tensor.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field

Magnetic Field
Magnetic fields are produced by electric currents, which can be macroscopic currents in wires, or
microscopic currents associated with electrons in atomic orbits. The magnetic field B is defined
in terms of force on moving charge in the Lorentz force law. The interaction of magnetic field
with charge leads to many practical applications. Magnetic field sources are essentially dipolar in
nature, having a north and south magnetic pole. The SI unit for magnetic field is the Tesla, which
can be seen from the magnetic part of the Lorentz force law Fmagnetic = qvB to be composed of
(Newton x second)/(Coulomb x meter). A smaller magnetic field unit is the Gauss (1 Tesla =
10,000 Gauss).

http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/magnetic/magfie.html

Magnetic field, region in the

neighbourhood of a magnet, electric current, or changing electric field, in which magnetic forces
are observable. Magnetic fields such as that of the Earth cause magnetic compass needles and
other permanent magnets to line up in the direction of the field. Magnetic fields force moving
electrically charged particles in a circular or helical path. This forceexerted on electric currents
in wires in a magnetic fieldunderlies the operation of electric motors.
 Around a permanent magnet
or a wire carrying a steady electric current in one direction, the magnetic field is stationary and
referred to as a magnetostatic field. At any given point its magnitude and direction remain the
same. Around an alternating current or a fluctuating direct current, the magnetic field is
continuously changing its magnitude and direction.

Magnetic fields may be represented by continuous lines of force or magnetic flux that emerge
from north-seeking magnetic poles and enter south-seeking magnetic poles. The density of the
lines indicates the magnitude of the magnetic field. At the poles of a magnet, for example, where
the magnetic field is strong, the field lines are crowded together, or more dense. Farther away,
where the magnetic field is weak, they fan out, becoming less dense. A uniform magnetic field is
represented by equally spaced parallel straight lines. The direction of the flux is the direction in
which the north-seeking pole of a small magnet points. The lines of flux are continuous, forming
closed loops. For a bar magnet, they emerge from the north-seeking pole, fan out and around,
enter the magnet at the south-seeking pole, and continue through the magnet to the north pole,
where they again emerge. The SI unit for magnetic flux is the weber. The number of webers is a
measure of the total number of field lines that cross a given area.

Magnetic fields may be represented mathematically by quantities called vectors that have
direction as well as magnitude. Two different vectors are in use to represent a magnetic field:
one called magnetic flux density, or magnetic induction, is symbolized by B; the other, called the
magnetic field strength, or magnetic field intensity, is symbolized by H. The magnetic field H
might be thought of as the magnetic field produced by the flow of current in wires and the
magnetic field B as the total magnetic field including also the contribution made by the magnetic
properties of the materials in the field. When a current flows in a wire wrapped on a soft-iron
cylinder, the magnetizing field H is quite weak, but the actual average magnetic field (B) within
the iron may be thousands of times stronger because B is greatly enhanced by the alignment of
the irons myriad tiny natural atomic magnets in the direction of the field. See also magnetic
permeability.

http://www.britannica.com/science/magnetic-field
Magnetic Fields -- History
Until 1820, the only magnetism known was that of iron
magnets and of "lodestones", natural magnets of iron-rich
ore.

Edmond Halley

It was believed that the inside of the

Earth was magnetized in the same
fashion, and scientists were greatly
puzzled when they found that the
direction of the compass needle at any
place slowly shifted, decade by
decade, suggesting a slow variation of
the Earth's magnetic field.

How can an iron magnet produce such changes?

Edmond Halley (of comet fame) ingeniously proposed
that the Earth contained a number of spherical shells, one
inside the other, each magnetized differently, each
slowly rotating in relation to the others.

Hans Christian Oersted was a professor of

science at Copenhagen University. In 1820 he
arranged in his home a science demonstration
to friends and students. He planned to
demonstrate the heating of a wire by an
electric current, and also to carry out
demonstrations of magnetism, for which he
provided a compass needle mounted on a
wooden stand.

.
 Oersted's Experiment

While performing his electric demonstration, Oersted noted to his

surprise that every time the electric current was switched on, the
compass needle moved. He kept quiet and finished the
demonstrations, but in the months that followed worked hard trying
to make sense out of the new phenomenon.

What Oersted saw...

But he couldn't! The

needle was neither attracted to the wire nor
repelled from it. Instead, it tended to stand at right
angles (see drawing below). In the end he
published his findings (in Latin!) without any
explanation.

Andr-Marie Ampre in France felt that if a current in a wire exerted a magnetic force on a
compass needle, two such wires also should interact magnetically. In a series of ingenious
experiments he showed that this interaction was simple and fundamental--parallel (straight)
currents attract, anti-parallel currents repel. The force between two long straight parallel
currents was inversely proportional to the distance between them and proportional to the
intensity of the current flowing in each.

[Only for those pursuing the math: this is not the basic force formula. Given two short
parallel currents I1 and I2, flowing in wire segements of length L1 and L1 and separated by a
distance R, the basic formula gives the force between them as proportional to

I1 I2 L1 L1/R2

(it gets further complicated if the currents flow in directions inclined to each other by
some angle). To find then the force between wires of complicated shape that carry
electrical currents, all these little bitty contributions to the force must be added up.
For two straight wires, the final result is as above--a force inversely proportional to
R, not to R2]

Maxwell

There thus existed two kinds of forces associated with electricity--electric

and magnetic. In 1864 James Clerk Maxwell demonstrated a subtle
connection between the two types of force, unexpectedly involving the
velocity of light. From this connection sprang the idea that light was an
electric phenomenon, the discovery of radio waves, the theory of relativity
and a great deal of present-day physics.
http://www-spof.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/whmfield.html
Magnetic Fields and Field Lines
If a small compass needle is placed at a point near the north pole of a bar magnet, the needle
turns round on its pivot and settles in a fixed direction as shown in figure.

At other points away from the pole the needle settles tangent to the field lines shown. The
magnet exerts a magnetic force in this area and the region round the magnet is called 'magnetic
field'. By plotting the directions indicated by the compass needle at various points in this region,
the magnetic field an be mapped out on a sheet of paper.

It should be noted that no two-field lines cross each other. A line of force can be defined as a
line, tangent to which at any point gives the direction of the magnetic field at that point. These
field lines originate at the north pole and terminate at the south pole.

We can also demonstrate the magnetic field by sprinkling iron filings on a sheet of paper laid on
magnets and tapping the paper lightly. The iron filings get converted into small magnets by
induction. They settle themselves along the lines of force in the magnetic field forming different
patterns as shown in figure.
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/physics/physics-i/magnetism/magnetic-fields-lines.php

Bar Magnet Magnetic Field

A magnet is an object which produces a magnetic field. This newly generated field is invisible but it is
responsible for all the properties of a magnet. With out any help of external influence, a permanent
magnet can produce magnetic field. A bar magnet has two poles, which are north pole and south pole.
The magnetic field originates from north pole and moving towards the south pole.

Magnetic Field Lines Around a Bar Magnet

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The strength of a magnet is determined by the total magnetic flux produced by that magnet or its
magnetic moment. The local strength is determined by using the magnetization produced by a magnet.
The direction of magnetic field in the case of a bar magnet is from north to south. The given figure
illustrate the direction of the magnetic field in a bar magnet. Bar magnet is a permanent magnet. A
permanent magnet is a substance which is made up of the magnetized materials and which produces
permanent magnetic field.
http://www.tutorvista.com/physics/bar-magnet-magnetic-field

Because magnetic fields were not discovered until recently, the history of how they were
discovered is quite interesting, and informative.

The Detection of Magnetic Fields

We begin by giving an empirical history of the development of electromagnetic theory. As

stated, people had long known that magnetic fields existed, but the only known source of these
fields were permanent magnets, and no link was made to electricity. In the early 1800's, Hans
Christian Oersted began to make the connection between electricity and magnetism. Oersted did
most of his work using compass needles, but we will derive the existence of magnetic fields, and
their relation to electricity, using more familiar systems-current carrying wires.

Consider two current carrying wires running parallel to one another. A current is simply a
collection of moving charges. Traditional electric theory predicts that, since the net charge on
each wire is zero, there is no interaction between the two wires. Experiments in the 1800's,
however, showed a surprising result: the wires were actually attracted to each other! The
experiment was repeated, with the currents running in opposite directions, with the result that the
wires were mutually repelled. Both situations are depicted below.
 Figure %: Parallel wires carrying current, in both parallel and antiparallel directions. In each case an
attractive or repulsive force is felt by each wire. The large arrows indicate direction of current, while the
small arrows indicate the direction of the force felt by each wire.

This experiment established that there was some sort of connection between magnetism and
electricity, but a few more distinctions had to be made to generate a coherent definition. Firstly,
if a metal sheet (a conductor) were placed between the two wires, it had no effect on the
phenomenon. Since conductors shield electric forces, clearly this phenomenon was not the result
of some unknown electrical interaction. Secondly, if a static charge (i.e. a charged particle that
does not move) were to replace one of the wires, the charge itself would feel no forces.

From these empirical observations we can develop a qualitative understanding of magnetic

forces and fields. Let us assume first that the observed phenomenon is in fact the result of a
magnetic field. Where does the field come from? Well, since the only objects in the experiment
are wires, we can make the following statement linking electricity and magnetism:

Magnetic fields are caused by moving charges.

From further experiments, scientist determined that any charged particle with a velocity causes a
magnetic field. The second question that must be asked about magnetic fields is on what objects
do they act? The observation that a nonmoving charge is not affected leads us to our second
statement about magnetic fields:

Magnetic fields only act on moving charges

From these two statements, we may think of electricity and magnetism in the following way. Electricity
is the study of the interaction between static charges. Magnetism is the study of the interaction
between moving charges. Both result from the existence of electric charge, and can simply be seen as
different topics in the study of electric charge. It goes without saying that the two are interrelated.

http://www.sparknotes.com/physics/magneticforcesandfields/intro/section1/page/2/
Magnetism
It is believed that around 2000 BC the Chinese had already discovered the magnetic property of
natural iron ore. In a part of Turkey formerly called Magnesia, there are deposits of an iron one
which has the property of attracting iron. As this ore was discovered by Greeks they called it
magnetite. This natural magnet was used by mariners for navigation and was called
"Lodestone".

Substances like iron, steel, nickel and cobalt get attracted by a magnet. Such substances are
called magnetic substances. On the other hand, substances like wood, rubber, glass, plastic etc.
which are not attracted by a magnet are called non-magnetic substances. These substances cannot
be magnetized either.

The Magnetism is the property of the material due to which it gets magnetized easily under the
influence of the magnetic field. The materials can be subdivided into several categories based on their
magnetic properties. In this topic we will learn about the magnetism and its various types.

What is Magnetism?
Back to Top

Magnetism is a force of attraction or repulsion due to a magnetic field. This magnetic field is produced
by two ways:

1. Using Inherently magnetic material

2. By electrically magnetizing material by charging them.

A material which exhibits magnetism is called a magnet. Magnets have two poles on either ends called
the north (N) and south (S) poles.

Magnetic Fields
Back to Top

Magnetic Fields are produced by magnetic materials and electric currents. It ca n be detected by the
force exerted by the magnetic materials on other magnetic materials and moving electric charges.
Magnetic field sources are dipolar in nature, having a north and south magnetic pole. The magnetic field
at any point is described by both a direction and a magnitude (or strength).

The Magnetic field '' B '' can be obtained from the magnetic part of the Lorentz force law

Fmagnetic = q v B
Where,
Fmagnetic = Magnetic force,

q = electric charge of the particle,

v = Velocity of the electric charge.
The symbol for magnetic field is the letter B and its unit is the tesla (T).

Magnetic Flux
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The total number of magnetic field lines crossing through the surface measures the magnetic flux
through any surface held in a magnetic field. It is a scalar quantity.

Weber is the S.I unit of magnetic flux.

Electromagnets
Back to Top

In 1820, Danish scientist Hans Christian Orsted gave the theory of the production of the magnetic field
by varying electric current. Using this electromagnet was invented by British scientist William Sturgeon.

These are purely those magnetic materials which shows magnetic property when an external electric
field is applied to it. Due to these materials it is possible to have many home appliances.
If these types of the magnets were not invented then most of the luxuries of life like television, radio,
microwave, telephones etc wouldnt be imagined.

The electromagnets are very strong magnets. Their magnetic strength can be increased and decreased
depending upon the amount of electric current applied to them. These types of magnets can be
prepared even at home, with great ease. A metal core is surrounded by the conducting wire as shown in
the figure below.

The advantage in using the electromagnets are as follows:

1. The polarity of the magnets in the electromagnet can be easily reversed by just reversing the
direction of current.
2. The strength of the electromagnet can be easily increase and decrease by adjusting the amount
of current flowing through the coil of wires.
3. It can be used in industries for transporting the large consignment. A magnetic arm can be
deployed which magnetize to attract the consignment box and transport it to the vehicle and
then demagnetize to place it on the vehicle.

Properties of Magnets
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The following are the Properties of Magnets:

1. The feature of magnets are that the end points in the magnet act differently from each other. If
one end attracts then the other end repels. Thus magnet end points are named as the poles.
For every magnet there will be two poles so magnet is also called as dipole.
 2. The magnet always align themselves in a North-South direction. The magnet poles are labeled
correspondingly as North and South. The lines of force moves from the North pole to the South
pole.
3. The magnets repels when they are placed near diamagnetic materials whereas they get feebly
attracted towards the paramagnetic materials and strongly attracted towards the Ferromagnetic
materials.

http://physics.tutorvista.com/electricity-and-magnetism/magnetism.html

Magnetic field lines are useful for visually representing the strength and direction of the magnetic field.

Learning Objectives[ edit ]

Define the start and the end points of the magnetic field lines

Relate the strength of the magnetic field with the density of the magnetic field lines

Key Points[ edit ]

The magnetic field direction is the same direction a compass needle points, which is tangent to the
magnetic field line at any given point.

The strength of the B-field is inversely proportional to the distance between field lines. It is exactly
proportional to the number of lines per unit area perpendicular to the lines.

A magnetic field line can never cross another field line. The magnetic field is unique at every point in
space.

Magnetic field lines are continuous and unbroken, forming closed loops. Magnetic field lines are
defined to begin on the north pole of a magnet and terminate on the south pole.

Terms[ edit ]

B-field

A synonym for the magnetic field.

magnetic field lines

 A graphical representation of the magnitude and the direction of a magnetic field.

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Full Text[ edit ]

Magnetic Field Lines

Einstein is said to have been fascinated by a compass as a child, perhaps musing on how the needle felt
a force without direct physical contact. His ability to think deeply and clearly about action at a distance,
particularly for gravitational, electric, and magnetic forces, later enabled him to create his revolutionary
theory of relativity. Since magnetic forces act at a distance, we define a magnetic field to represent
magnetic forces. A pictorial representation of magnetic field lines is very useful in visualizing the
strength and direction of the magnetic field . The direction of magnetic field lines is defined to be the
direction in which the north end of a compass needle points. The magnetic field is traditionally called
the B-field.

Visualizing Magnetic Field Lines

Magnetic field lines are defined to have the direction that a small compass points when placed at a
location. (A) If small compasses are used to map the magnetic field around a bar magnet, they will point
in the directions shown: away from the north pole of the magnet, toward the south pole of the magnet
(recall that Earth's north magnetic pole is really a south pole in terms of definitions of poles on a bar
magnet. ) (B) Connecting the arrows gives continuous magnetic field lines. The strength of the field is
proportional to the closeness (or density) of the lines. (C) If the interior of the magnet could be probed,
the field lines would be found to form continuous closed loops.

Mapping the magnetic field of an object is simple in principle. First, measure the strength and direction
of the magnetic field at a large number of locations (or at every point in space). Then, mark each
location with an arrow (called a vector) pointing in the direction of the local magnetic field with its
magnitude proportional to the strength of the magnetic field (producing a vector field). You can
"connect" the arrows to form magnetic field lines. The direction of the magnetic field at any point is
parallel to the direction of nearby field lines, and the local density of field lines can be made
proportional to its strength.

Magnetic field lines are like the contour lines (constant altitude) on a topographic map in that they
represent something continuous, and a different mapping scale would show more or fewer lines. An
advantage of using magnetic field lines as a representation is that many laws of magnetism (and
electromagnetism) can be stated completely and concisely using simple concepts such as the "number"
of field lines through a surface. These concepts can be quickly translated to their mathematical form. For
example, the number of field lines through a given surface is the surface integral of the magnetic field .

Bar Magnet and Magnetic Field Lines

The direction of magnetic field lines represented by the alignment of iron filings sprinkled on paper
placed above a bar magnet.

Various phenomena have the effect of "displaying" magnetic field lines as though the field lines are
physical phenomena. For example, iron filings placed in a magnetic field line up to form lines that
correspond to "field lines. " Magnetic fields' lines are also visually displayed in polar auroras, in which
plasma particle dipole interactions create visible streaks of light that line up with the local direction of
Earth's magnetic field.

Small compasses used to test a magnetic field will not disturb it. (This is analogous to the way we tested
electric fields with a small test charge. In both cases, the fields represent only the object creating them
and not the probe testing them. ) Figure 15051 shows how the magnetic field appears for a current loop
and a long straight wire, as could be explored with small compasses. A small compass placed in these
fields will align itself parallel to the field line at its location, with its north pole pointing in the direction
of B. Note the symbols used for field into and out of the paper. We'll explore the consequences of these
various sources of magnetic fields in further sections .

Mapping Magnetic Field Lines

Small compasses could be used to map the fields shown here. (A) The magnetic field of a circular current
loop is similar to that of a bar magnet. (B) A long and straight wire creates a field with magnetic field
lines forming circular loops. (C) When the wire is in the plane of the paper, the field is perpendicular to
the paper. Note that the symbols used for the field pointing inward (like the tail of an arrow) and the
field pointing outward (like the tip of an arrow).

Extensive exploration of magnetic fields has revealed a number of hard-and-fast rules. We use magnetic
field lines to represent the field (the lines are a pictorial tool, not a physical entity in and of themselves).
The properties of magnetic field lines can be summarized by these rules:

The direction of the magnetic field is tangent to the field line at any point in space. A small compass
will point in the direction of the field line.
 The strength of the field is proportional to the closeness of the lines. It is exactly proportional to the
number of lines per unit area perpendicular to the lines (called the areal density).

Magnetic field lines can never cross, meaning that the field is unique at any point in space.

Magnetic field lines are continuous, forming closed loops without beginning or end. They go from the
north pole to the south pole.

The last property is related to the fact that the north and south poles cannot be separated. It is a distinct
difference from electric field lines, which begin and end on the positive and negative charges. If
magnetic monopoles existed, then magnetic field lines would begin and end on them.

Source: Boundless. Magnetic Field Lines. Boundless Physics. Boundless, 08 Jan. 2016. Retrieved 18
Feb. 2016 from https://www.boundless.com/physics/textbooks/boundless-physics-
textbook/magnetism-21/magnetism-and-magnetic-fields-155/magnetic-field-lines-549-6686/