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Fizzics Fizzle: Table 1. Sommerfield System of Units
Fizzics Fizzle: Table 1. Sommerfield System of Units
Electromagnetic Basics
1,2,3,4
In this section we will look at the general electromagnetic principles which are
widely employed in engineering. This is a very short introduction to a complex
subject. You should find yourself a good book on magnetism and
electromagnetism if you want to develop a better understanding in this area.
You can also find most of these concepts examined in detail at Fizzics Fizzle.
1. Systems of Units -
Just to make life difficult, there are three systems of units in popular use,
namely the Sommerfield, Kennely and Gaussian systems. Since each system
has different units for many of the quantities things can become confusing. I'll
be using the Sommerfield System as outlined below:
Quantity Unit
Field H Am-1
Flux weber (W)
Induction B tesla (T)
Magnetisation M Am-1
Intensity of
I -
Magnetisation
Moment m Am2
2. Biot-Savart Law -
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Fig 2.1
Eqn 2.1
Eqn 2.2
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Fig 2.2
3. Ampere's Law -
Eqn 3.1
Fig 3.1
We know that the field is circular and concentric with the current so H can be
integrated around the current at a distance r to give:
Eqn 3.2
The integration is very straightforward and shows how Ampere's Law can be
applied to provide quick solutions in some types of geometry. A knowledge of
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4. Field of a Solenoid
Fig 4.1
If the solenoid is long and thin then the field inside the solenoid can be
considered almost uniform.
5. Ferromagnetic Materials
Probably the most well known ferromagnetic material is iron but there are
other elements such as cobalt and nickel, as well as numerous alloys like
silicon steel. Each material has a particular property which makes it suitable
for its application. So what do we mean by a ferromagnetic material? Put
simply, a ferromagnetic material is attracted by a magnet. While this is correct
it's hardly a useful definition and it doesn't tell us why the attraction occurs.
The detailed theory of the magnetism of materials is quite a complex subject
involving quantum mechanics so we'll stick to a simpler conceptual
description. As you know, the flow of charge generates a magnetic field so
whenever we find charge in motion we should expect an associated field. In a
ferromagnetic material the orbiting electrons are arranged in such a way as to
generate a small magnetic field. Now this means that the material is
effectively composed of many tiny current loops which have their own
magnetic field. Normally the atoms are orientated in small groups called
domains, these are directed randomly throughout the material so there is no
net magnetic field. However if we apply an external field to the ferromagnetic
material from a coil or permanent magnet, the current loops try and align with
this field - the domians which are most aligned with the field 'grow' at the
expense of the less well aligned domians. When this occurs it results in a net
magnetisation and attraction between the material and the magnet/coil.
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Eqn 6.1
7. Magnetisation -
Eqn 7.1
Eqn 8.1
where l is the length of the circuit path, is the permeability, and A is the
cross-sectional area.
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Fig 8.1
The torus has a mean radius of r and a cross-sectional area A. The mmf is
supplied from a coil with N turns carrying a current i. The calculation of
reluctance is complicated by the nonlinearity of the materials permeability.
Eqn 8.2
If the reluctance can be determined then we can calculate the flux which
exists in the magnetic circuit.
9. Demagnetising Fields -
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Fig 9.1
It should be noted that poles only form when there is a discontinuity in the
permeability of the material. In a closed magnetic path like a torus, no poles
form and so there is no demagnetising field.
Sources:
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