Magnetic field

In magnetism and electromagnetism, magnetic field is a physical property of space that quantifies the magnetic influence at a given location.

Magnetic fields

  • deflect moving electric charges (including electric currents)
  • apply torques on magnets to twist them in the direction of the magnetic field
  • attract or repel magnets and magnetic material such as iron
  • can induce electrical currents by time-varying the magnetic field.

Magnetic fields are created by

Magnetic fields are used throughout modern science and technology. In electrical engineering and electromechanics, it is important in the design and use of electric motors, generators, transformers, electromagnets, and inductors among many other devices. In material science, magnetic forces give information about the charge carriers in a material through the Hall effect in addition to other uses.

In geology and geophysics, Earth's magnetic field gives information about earth's interior while local magnetic field measurements are used in mineral exploration and other measurements. Too, Earth's magnetic field creates a magnetosphere which shields the Earth's ozone layer and the rest of the planet from the solar wind. In physics the relationship between the magnetic and electric fields forms the field of electrodynamics which is important to understand a wide range of phenomena including light (also known as electromagnetic radiation) and the properties of antenna and transmission lines.

Since both strength and direction of a magnetic field may vary with location, it is described mathematically by assigning a vector to each point of space, making it a vector field. There are two different, but closely related, vector fields which are called "magnetic field". These are written as B and H. While the best names for these fields is the subject of long running debate, the underlying physics is uncontested.

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