Electricity & Magnetism: Introduction

or

Curriculum Module

Created with R2024a. Compatible with R2024a and later releases.

Information

This curriculum module contains interactive MATLAB® live scripts that provides supplementary examples and visualizations to enhance understanding of electricity and magnetism principles, specifically focusing on common application like capacitors and DC motors.

Background

This initial release of the Electricity & Magnetism courseware features two interactive scripts that explore the principles of how capacitors function, based on the laws of electrostatics.

The instructions inside the live scripts will guide you through the exercises and activities. Get started with each live script by running it one section at a time. To stop running the script or a section midway (for example, when an animation is in progress), use the Stop button in the RUN section of the Live Editor tab in the MATLAB Toolstrip.

Contact Us

Solutions are available upon instructor request. Contact the MathWorks teaching resources team if you would like to provide feedback, or if you have a question.

Prerequisites

This module assumes knowledge of basic calculus and introductory physics, including mechanics and fundamental concepts of electricity and magnetism.

Getting Started

Accessing the Module

On MATLAB Online:

Use the link to download the module. You will be prompted to log in or create a MathWorks account. The project will be loaded, and you will see an app with several navigation options to get you started.

On Desktop:

Download or clone this repository. Open MATLAB, navigate to the folder containing these scripts and double-click on emag.prj. It will add the appropriate files to your MATLAB path and open an app that asks you where you would like to start.

Ensure you have all the required products (listed below) installed. If you need to include a product, add it using the Add-On Explorer. To install an add-on, go to the Home tab and select Add-Ons > Get Add-Ons.

Products

MATLAB® is used throughout the module along with the following products:

Simulink®

Symbolic Math Toolbox™

Simscape™

Scripts

Capacitors series

	CapacitorsFundamental.mlx In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Explore the fundamental principles and applications of capacitors in electrical circuits. $\bullet$ Analyze the relationship between capacitors and electric fields, including their role in storing and releasing electrical energy.
	CapacitorsChargeDischarge.mlx In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Analyze energy storage in capacitors and evaluate its applications in circuits. $\bullet$ Simulate the charge and discharge of capacitors to demonstrate their role.

ElectricFieldAndCharge.mlx (planned)

	In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Analyze the relationship between electric charges and electric fields. $\bullet$ Illustrate electric field lines. $\bullet$ Compute the electric field due to point charges and continuous charge distributions.

ElectricPotentialGaussLaw.mlx (planned)

	In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Utilize Gauss's Law to determine electric fields for symmetric charge distributions. $\bullet$ Explain the concept of electric potential and its relation to electric field. $\bullet$ Compute electric potential for various charge configurations.

MagneticFieldAndCurrent.mlx (planned)

	In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Describe how electric currents generate magnetic fields. $\bullet$ Apply the Biot-Savart law and Ampère's law to calculate magnetic fields. $\bullet$ Illustrate magnetic field lines around current-carrying conductors.

MagneticDipole.mlx (planned)

	In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Explain the concept of magnetic dipole and its properties. $\bullet$ Evaluate the interaction of magnetic dipoles with external magnetic fields. $\bullet$ Determine the torque and potential energy of magnetic dipoles in various field configurations.

MagneticApplication.mlx (planned)

	In this script, students will... $\bullet$ Explain the basic principles of DC motor operation and the role of electromagnetic force. $\bullet$ Examine the relationship between current, magnetic field, and torque in a DC motor. $\bullet$ Model the performance and efficiency of DC motors.

License

The license for this module is available in the LICENSE.md.

Related Courseware Modules

DC Circuit Analysis

	Available on: GitHub

Virtual Measurement of Electron charge-to-mass ratio lab

	Available on: GitHub

Or feel free to explore our other modular courseware content.

Educator Resources

• Educator Page

Contribute

Looking for more? Find an issue? Have a suggestion? Please contact the MathWorks teaching resources team. If you want to contribute directly to this project, you can find information about how to do so in the CONTRIBUTING.md page on GitHub.

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