Shape of electromagnetic field

In summary: There is an online tool called MATLAB which you can use to generate visual representations of electromagnetic fields. Solving the PDE is very difficult, but there are some numerical techniques and expansive programs like CST that help scientists visualize and study EM fields. I sincerely do not know if there is something on the web for some specific case, but you might try looking at the Wolfram Site for some demos.
  • #1
physior
182
1
hello

what are the shapes that a magnetic (of electromagnetic origin, so that it will be able to vary in intensity and switch on/off controlled by electricity) can have?

for example, can we create an electromagnetic in the shape of a cylinder of specific dimensions? ie. to produce an electromagnetic field that will only be present and act in the limits of a given dimension cylinder?

thanks!
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Just plug the solution that you are interested in into the Maxwell PDE and see if inconsistecy arise. Have fun.
 
  • #3
A field has a value - possibly zero - at every point in space. It doesn't have a shape.

It is possible to confine a field to a space, but it requires materials. For example, the field inside a parallel plate capacitor is non-zero, but outside it is zero. If you rolled it up into a cylindrical shape, the field would be zero everywhere outside and would have regions of non-zero value on the inside.
 
  • #4
GiuseppeR7 said:
Just plug the solution that you are interested in into the Maxwell PDE and see if inconsistecy arise. Have fun.

what is Maxwell PDE? you throw a term with some initials and you expect us to know it
 
  • #5
I'm sorry...my fault. Not so much time ago a guy called Maxwell performed experiments on the electromagnetic fields, and with the data from the experiments and some logic he "invented" the mathematical rules that electromagnetic fields follow. These are not simple algebraic equations but equations involving the various E(x,y,z,t) and B(x,y,z,t) functions and theirs partial derivatives. This kind of equations are called Partial Differential Equations. If an electromagnetic fields exist you can be certain that it is a solution of the infinite solutions of the Maxwell PDE.
 
  • #6
GiuseppeR7 said:
I'm sorry...my fault. Not so much time ago a guy called Maxwell performed experiments on the electromagnetic fields, and with the data from the experiments and some logic he "invented" the mathematical rules that electromagnetic fields follow. These are not simple algebraic equations but equations involving the various E(x,y,z,t) and B(x,y,z,t) functions and theirs partial derivatives. This kind of equations are called Partial Differential Equations. If an electromagnetic fields exist you can be certain that it is a solution of the infinite solutions of the Maxwell PDE.

that's cool of him
is there an online tool to experiment with the various solutions of these equations? to generate visual representations of electromagnetic fields?
 
  • #7
:) solving those PDE is very difficult...there are some numerical techniques (it means that they are not solved "mathematically" so to speak), there are some VERY expansive programs like CST that help scientists visualize and study EM fields...i sincerely do not know if there is something on the web for some specific case...maybe try to look at the Wolfram site! there are some demos probably
 

Related to Shape of electromagnetic field

1. What is the shape of an electromagnetic field?

The shape of an electromagnetic field can vary depending on the source and the surrounding environment. In general, it can be described as a wave-like pattern that radiates outwards from the source. This shape is often visualized as a series of curved lines or vectors, with the strength of the field decreasing as the distance from the source increases.

2. How is the shape of an electromagnetic field determined?

The shape of an electromagnetic field is determined by the properties of the source, such as its charge and current, and the medium through which it is propagating. Electromagnetic fields follow the laws of electromagnetism, which describe how electric and magnetic fields interact with each other and with charged particles.

3. Can the shape of an electromagnetic field change?

Yes, the shape of an electromagnetic field can change as it propagates through different mediums or interacts with other fields or particles. For example, the shape of a light wave can change as it passes through a prism, or the shape of a magnetic field can be altered by the presence of a nearby magnet.

4. What is the significance of the shape of an electromagnetic field?

The shape of an electromagnetic field is significant because it determines how the field will interact with other objects or particles. For example, the shape of a magnetic field can determine how a compass needle will align, and the shape of an electromagnetic field around an antenna determines the direction and strength of the radio waves it emits.

5. How is the shape of an electromagnetic field used in practical applications?

The shape of an electromagnetic field is used in a variety of practical applications, such as communication technologies (e.g. radio, television, and cell phones), medical imaging (e.g. MRI machines), and energy production (e.g. solar panels). Understanding and manipulating the shape of electromagnetic fields is crucial in these fields and many others.

Similar threads

  • Electromagnetism
Replies
4
Views
1K
Replies
1
Views
3K
Replies
28
Views
1K
Replies
4
Views
991
Replies
11
Views
2K
Replies
2
Views
679
  • Classical Physics
Replies
3
Views
344
  • Electromagnetism
Replies
25
Views
20K
Replies
5
Views
1K
Replies
6
Views
273
Back
Top