Physics Lab

Magnetism - A Virtual PhET Lab

 After completing this lab activity, the students should be able to:

· Conduct an experiment to determine the magnetic field generated by a current-carrying wire loop

· Calculate the magnetic field generated by a current-carrying wire loop

· Write a lab report

Lab Report

The lab report must include the following:

· Title

· Introduction

· Experimental Details or Theoretical Analysis

· Results

· Discussion

· Conclusions and Summary

· References

Please visit the following website to learn more about lab reports:

ACS Format for Laboratory ReportsLinks to an external site.

An example of a lab report is given on the following website:

 Professor K - sample lab reportLinks to an external site.

Lab Activity

Please follow the steps given below to conduct the experiment:

· This lab requires you to produce a lab report to  determine “ Magnetic Field in a Current-Carrying Wire Loop.” This is the  “Title” of your lab report.

· Read the relevant chapter on magnetism and add an  “Introduction.”

You conduct this lab by connecting to the PhET website by clicking on the link given below (or where applicable through the embedded simulation on the lab page):

Attribution:

PhET Interactive Simulations University of Colorado Boulder https://phet.colorado.edu

(If you cannot use the above simulation or cannot get to the website by clicking on the link, please copy and paste the link into your browser. If the simulation is not running, please check if you have the latest Java, Adobe Flash, or HTML5 software [depending on the simulated lab]. If you download the relevant software and attempt to run the simulation and it is still not working, please call the IT helpdesk. It also could be that your computer does not have sufficient space to run the simulation. Please check all the possibilities).

· Once you open the simulation, select “Electromagnet.” Then, please check all the boxes on the simulation page. Follow the lab scenario given to produce the lab report. All movements and tools you use in this simulated experiment will form the  “Experimental Details” section of the lab report. You must keep a record of all the values appearing on the screen as  experimental values for the scenario. These values also form part of the  “Results” section of the lab report. Now, complete the theoretical calculations. These calculated values also  form the  “Results” section of the lab report.

· Now, you can complete the  “Discussion” section of your lab report by discussing the values and any other information relevant to the experiment.

· Complete the lab report by adding a summary to the “ Conclusion” section of your lab report.

· Submit the lab report to the relevant Canvas Dropbox

Please watch the following video to learn more about magnetic field generated by a current carrying wire loops:

Magnetic field due to current carrying loop (video) | Khan AcademyLinks to an external site.

 

Lab Scenario

 

Find the radius of the wire loops in the simulation by using an appropriate equation. Please confirm the radius of the wire loops by conducting the experiment at least for three different loops.

Note that you can obtain the Magnetic Field Strength at the  center of the loop by using the Field Meter. Make sure to keep the voltage to 10V and assume the current as 3 A. The permeability of free space value as 4pi X 10-7 T m/A.