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arXiv · 2001.05966

Beyond the magnetic field of a finite wire: a teaching approach using the superposition principle

Jorge Enrique García-Farieta·Alejandro Hurtado Márquez
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Abstract

In the introductory courses on electromagnetism, the Biot-Savart law is generally explained by a simple example to find the magnetic field created at any point in space by a small wire element that carries a current. The simplest system studied consists in a straight finite wire, however, to explore the magnetic field in complex geometries is required more imagination to solve the mathematics involved. In this paper, we present a practical methodology to use the superposition principle of magnetic fields by using n-times a finite current-carrying wire to evaluate the magnetic field at any point in space for various geometric configurations. This approach allows students to explore systems with different levels of complexity, combining analytical and computational skills to visualize and analyze the magnetic field.

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Jorge Enrique García-Farieta, Alejandro Hurtado Márquez. 2020-01-16. Beyond the magnetic field of a finite wire: a teaching approach using the superposition principle. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0004885

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