Experiment: Checking Biot-Savart's Law

In summary, Biot-Savart's law can be experimentally checked by measuring the magnetic field strength and comparing it to theoretical calculations. However, the differential form of the law cannot be directly tested and can only be inferred from the integral form. It was first written down by Laplace, based on experiments with closed circuits, and has been confirmed for specific cases but cannot be proven in general.
  • #1
pardesi
339
0
how does one experimentally check biot-savart's law
 
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Maybe you could time travel back to the early 19th century when people actually cared?

Or you could enroll in a freshman physics laboratory class where no one cares about anything.
 
  • #3
no isn't it imp...
well why i asked is it holds only for 'thin' wires and are the wires which we normally use sufficient to test it's validity
 
  • #4
Why can't you just measure the magnetic field strength and see if it matches the theoretical calculations at that particular position?

Besides, like Coulomb's Law, isn't B-S law a phenomenological law historically? So it CAME out of experimental observations in the first place.

Zz.
 
  • #5
pardesi said:
how does one experimentally check biot-savart's law
The differential form of the B-S law cannot be tested, but can only be inferred from the integral form. The integral form was first written down by Laplace, based on the experiments of B and S with closed circuits. Because of its general nature, it can only be confirmed for specific cases (always passing so far) but not "proven" in general.
 
  • #6
thanks for that i just wanted to see the experiments behind it ...
and ofcourse not a 'proof'
 

1. What is Biot-Savart's Law?

Biot-Savart's Law is a fundamental law in electromagnetism that describes the magnetic field created by a steady current in a wire at a specific point in space.

2. Why is it important to check Biot-Savart's Law experimentally?

It is important to check Biot-Savart's Law experimentally to validate its accuracy and applicability in real-world situations. This helps to verify the theoretical understanding of the law and its practical applications.

3. What are the materials needed to perform an experiment to check Biot-Savart's Law?

The materials needed include a wire, a power source, a magnetic field sensor, a ruler, and a current measurer. Additional materials may be required depending on the specific experiment being conducted.

4. How is the experiment to check Biot-Savart's Law performed?

The experiment involves passing a steady current through a wire and measuring the magnetic field at various points using a sensor. The data is then compared to the theoretical predictions of Biot-Savart's Law, and any discrepancies are noted and analyzed.

5. What are the potential sources of error in an experiment to check Biot-Savart's Law?

Potential sources of error include variations in the current, wire resistance, and the accuracy of the measuring instruments. Other factors such as external magnetic fields and experimental setup can also affect the results.

Similar threads

Replies
1
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
18
Views
1K
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
6
Views
593
Replies
5
Views
821
Replies
8
Views
667
  • Classical Physics
Replies
1
Views
1K
Replies
13
Views
1K
Replies
12
Views
776
Replies
5
Views
6K
Replies
1
Views
952
Back
Top