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arXiv · 2006.06481

Magnetic fields produced by electric railways

Martin Monteiro·Giovanni Organtini·Arturo C. Marti
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Abstract

We propose a simple experiment to explore magnetic fields created by electric railways and compare them with a simple model and parameters estimated using easily available information. A pedestrian walking on an overpass above train tracks registers the components of the magnetic field with the built-in magnetometer of a smartphone. The experimental results are successfully compared with a model of the magnetic field of the transmission lines and the local Earth's magnetic field. This experiment, suitable for a field trip, involves several abilities, such as modeling the magnetic field of power lines, looking up reliable information and estimating non-easily accessible quantities.

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Martin Monteiro, Giovanni Organtini, Arturo C. Marti. 2020-06-11. Magnetic fields produced by electric railways. https://doi.org/10.1119/10.0002390

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