Open Access[Comment on “Bringing space physics concepts into introductory electromagnetism”] On the concept of moving magnetic fields lines
Author(s) -
Fälthammar CarlGunne,
Mozer Forrest S.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2007eo150002
Subject(s) - physics , magnetic field , motion (physics) , electromagnetism , theoretical physics , space (punctuation) , planet , plasma , magnetosphere particle motion , classical mechanics , astrophysics , quantum mechanics , philosophy , linguistics
More than 99% of the known matter in the universe is ionized into the plasma state. This cosmical plasma is generally permeated by magnetic fields. Hence, magnetic fields, and the concepts of magnetic field lines and magnetic field line motion, are of fundamental interest in the physics of space plasmas, including those that constitute the near environment of the Earth and other planets. W. Belcher discussed the concept of magnetic field line motion as a useful tool in teaching electromagnetic theory in an article in Eos [ Belcher , 2005]. However, there are some important limitations and pitfalls to this concept, none of which is mentioned in the article by Belcher.