Oersted’s Experiment of Electromagnetism

Electromagnetic waves are generally known as light and obey the laws of optics. The physical interaction of electric charges, magnetic moments, and the Electromagnetic field is called geomagnetism. The field can be static or changing. Light is an electromagnetic wave and it obeys the laws of optics.

Oersted’s law states that an electric current creates a magnetic field. Hans Christian Oersted, a physicist from the Danes, noticed that the needle of a compass next to a wire turned so that it was parallel to the wire. Oersted found the physical law describing the magnetic field. Oersted found the first of two laws that link electricity and magnetism. The equations that govern electromagnetism include these two laws.

According to Oersted, straight wire carries a steady direct current. The magnetic field lines encircle the current-carrying wire. The magnetic field lines are in a plane. The direction of the magnetic field can be reversed if the current direction is reversed. The magnitude of the current determines the field strength. The distance from the wire determines the power of the field.

The direction of the magnetic field

The direction of the magnetic field at a point can be found by using the right-hand rule. If the right hand is wrapped around the wire, the thumb will point in the direction of the magnetic field.

Oersted’s law only holds for steady currents, which don’t change with time. It only holds for DC electric circuits. It fails for time-varying currents because of the case of a circuit with a battery and a Capacitor. Furthermore, it is possible to prove that the current in this circuit creates a magnetic field, even though any closed curve encircling the conductor can be spanned by a surface passing between the plates. Maxwell changed Oersted’s law to cover the case of time-varying currents by adding a new source term called displacement current.

Background to the experiment

An electric current in a wire can cause the wire to glow. Electricity, heating and lighting were connected. Scientists want to find the underlying causes of different phenomena.

Oersted’s thinking

Oersted was demonstrating the connection between electricity, heat and light. He showed that a voltaic pile became hot and glowed after connecting to a Platinum wire. He had an idea about a connection between electricity and magnetism. Likewise, he decided to test his concept there because he had a compass with him.

The magnetic field around the wire was circular, and the lines of force were centered on the wire. He showed that a thicker wire had a more significant effect. He showed that there was no effect on the compass and wire. Oersted founded the Society for the Dissemination of Natural Science.

The compass needle gets hit by the electric current when the wire is placed over it. The compass needle gets stuck in the opposite direction when you reverse the current direction. The compass needle doesn’t move when the current is turned off.

Oersted’s Compass

Hans Christian Oersted discovered the relationship between magnetism and electricity in 1820. Hans Christian Oersted discovered the relationship between magnetism and electricity in a very simple experiment. One evening, as Oersted was setting up materials for a lecture, he brought a compass close to a live electrical wire and noticed that the needle on the compass jumped and pointed to the wire.

There was a magnetic field around the wire. The study of electromagnetism was born after Oersted proved that electricity and magnetism were connected. The equipment in the model is from 1820. The voltaic pile is made of copper and zinc plates. A wooden piece holds a copper wire.

The compass points north because the battery is not connected. The electric current in the wire travels from the positive to the negative terminal when you click the Turn On button. The magnetic field created by the electrons traveling in the current causes the compass needle to align itself with it. The compass will point in different directions depending on where it is placed. The magnetic field around the wire and the compass needle will change direction if you hit the flip battery button.

Conclusion

The magnetic field around the compass needle is caused by the current-carrying wire acting as a magnet. Whenever there is current in the wire, the deflection of the compass needle shows that a current-carrying wire produces a magnetic field around it. The wire creates a magnetic field.