Current 0.00 A
Magnet orientation:
Magnet and wire settings:
Potential difference:
0 V
Magnetic field strength:
2
Magnet height:
160 px
Other settings:
Show magnetic field lines:
Show field direction:
Show force:
Current type:

General instructions:

  • Click 'Motor Effect' or 'Induction' to switch between modes.

Motor Effect mode:

  • Magnet orientation:
    • Select Left/Right, Up/Down, In/Out to change the magnet orientation, useful for setting students problems to solve.
    • Click 'Top-down view' to view the simulation from above, which can make the magnetic fields clearer.
    • Click on either magnetic pole to flip the poles around.
  • Magnet and wire settings:
    • Adjust the 'Potential difference' slider to change the current flowing through the wire and thus the strength of its magnetic field.
    • Adjust the 'Magnetic field strength' slider to change the strength of the permanent magnet's magnetic field.
    • Adjust the 'Magnet height' slider to change the height of the magnet and thus the length of the wire inside its field (does not affect the field strength).
  • Other settings:
    • Toggle 'Show magnetic field lines' to show or hide them.
    • Toggle 'Show field direction' to add arrows to the field lines.
    • Toggle 'Show force' to add an arrow that shows the direction and size (relative only) of the force on the wire.
    • Toggle 'Current type' between A.C. and D.C. to show why the motor effect needs D.C.

Induction mode:

  • General:
    • Drag the magnet with the mouse and see the effect on electron movement in the coil, and see the potential difference and current produced.
  • Coil options:
    • Adjust the 'Number of coils' to change the number of coils on the wire to explore its effect on current size.
    • Toggle 'Coil direction' to change the winding of the coil and explore its effect on current direction.
  • Magnet options:
    • Adjust the 'Magnetic field strength' slider to make the magnet stronger/weaker, visualised by its size.
    • Toggle 'Magnet movement mode' to switch between Manual (drag it with the mouse) and Automatic (adjust the 'Movement speed' slider as desired, then click 'Start/Pause/Resume' as necessary).
    • Toggle 'Magnet orientation' to flip the magnet's poles.
  • Magnetic field options:
    • Toggle 'Magnetic field' to show or hide the magnetic field.
    • Click 'Add compass' to add a compass (up to 12) then drag it to the desired position. Click remove compass to remove them one-by-one.
Notes
• The purple circles represent electrons moving in the wires.
• This is an illustration rather than a simulation; the field lines, potential difference, current and force adjust to illustrate key principles rather than accurately modelling the underlying physics.