| DESCRIPTION:
This simulation illustrates the magnetic field generated
by a ring of current, and shows how, by the principle
of superposition, a continuous current distribution
can be thought of as the sum of many discrete current
elements (in this case, thirty). Each element generates
its own field, described by the Biot-Savart Law (and
represented here by the small vectors attached to the
observation point), which, when added to the contribution
from all the other elements, results in the total field
of the ring (given by the large resultant vector, and
by the large two dimensional field map). By moving the
observation point around with the arrow keys, changes
in field magnitude and direction can be observed at
different positions relative to the ring.
Note that along the axis of the ring, the perpendicular
component of each element's field is cancelled out by
the corresponding element directly opposite it on the
other side of the ring. The resultant field is thus
described only by the contributions along that axis.
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