Field of a permanent magnet: Remotely controlled measurement

Abstract

In textbooks, magnetic fields are usually visualized by two-dimensional field lines. There, the density of field lines is often misleadingly stated to be proportional to the strength of the magnetic field. This is not entirely correct. To help students better understand the different characteristics of magnetic fields, it is important that they gain experience with magnetic fields by performing real or virtual experiments themselves. To improve the students' knowledge of the characteristics of magnetic fields, a remote laboratory was developed which allows exact positioning of a two-dimensional hall sensor around a Neodymium bar magnet. This offers the opportunity to make much more sensitive measurements than it is possible in schools. Technical issues and an example analysis of the measured data are discussed.