This article comes from a question asked by a student of mine: if the Sun radiates energy in the form of electromagnetic waves, could they shift the Earth from its current orbit on a suitable timescale? The answer to such a question is apparently obvious and trivial. Nevertheless, it requires an instructive reasoning and interesting estimates of…

When asked to explain the Galilean non-invariance of classical electromagnetism on the basis of pre-relativistic considerations alone, students--and sometimes their teachers too--may face an impasse. Indeed, they often argue that a pre-relativistic physicist could most obviously have provided the explanation "at a glance", on the basis of the…

As an experimental project proposed to students in fourth year of university, a viscometer was developed, consisting of a small magnet levitating in a viscous fluid. The viscous force acting on the magnet is directly measured: viscosities in the range 10-10[superscript 6] mPa s are obtained. This experiment is used as an introduction to complex…

In this paper we analyse the behaviour of a small-scale model of a magnetic levitation system based on the Inductrack concept. Drag and lift forces acting on our prototype, moving above a continuous copper track, are studied analytically following a simple low-speed approach. The experimental results are in good agreement with the theoretical…

The force between two parallel current-carrying wires is investigated in the rest frames of the ions and the electrons. A straightforward Lorentz transformation shows that what appears as a purely magnetostatic force in the ion frame appears as a combined magnetostatic and electrostatic force in the electron frame. The derivation makes use of a…

When FT-NMR is used to collect data without a sufficient delay time between subsequent pulses, the integrated area under certain peaks may result in a lower value than should be observed under appropriate conditions. This discrepancy in integration may deceive the inexperienced eye and consequently can lead to a wrong assignment of the NMR…

In an inhomogeneous magnetized plasma the transport of energy and particles perpendicular to the magnetic field is in general mainly caused by quasi two-dimensional turbulent fluid mixing. The physics of turbulence and structure formation is of ubiquitous importance to every magnetically confined laboratory plasma for experimental or industrial…

Introductory calculus-based physics textbooks state that electromagnetic waves are transverse and list many of their properties, but most such textbooks do not bring forth arguments why this is so. Both physical and theoretical arguments are at a level appropriate for students of courses based on such books, and could be readily used by…

This study aims to analyse university students' reasoning regarding two laws of electromagnetism: Gauss's law and Ampere's law. It has been supposed that the problems seen in understanding and applying both laws do not spring from students' misconceptions. Students habitually use reasoning known in the literature as 'common sense' methodology that…

Shocked by static? Mixed up about magnets? Curious about currents? Teachers can get past memorizing all those electricity-related formulas, rules, and procedures so they can understand the subject at a level deep enough to teach it with confidence and comfort. Here to help is "Electricity and Magnetism," the fifth title in the award-winning NSTA…

This textbook presents elementary principles of mechanics, hydrostatics, hydraulics, pneumatics, acoustics, pyronomics [sic], optics, electricity, galvanism, magnetism, electromagnetism, magneto-electricity, and astronomy. Among topics covered are descriptions and illustrations of McCormick's reaper, Sharps' Rifle, printing presses, House's…

This textbook is a course in natural science and astronomy. The contents include mechanical properties of bodies; mechanics of solids; mechanics of fluids; nature and production of sound; nature and transmission of light; excitation and characteristic effects of electricity; properties and magnets; theoretical astronomy; and descriptive astronomy.

This book is written for people who tend to sit toward the back of the classroom during scientific lectures. It assumes that students remember nothing of what happened in their science classes. The book is divided into seven sections: (1) Magnetism; (2) Bending Light Waves; (3) Bacterial Stories; (4) Light Wave Craziness; (5) Homemade Science; (6)…

Describes the great variety of observations surrounding the auroras (both borealis and australis), and provides photographs from the space shuttle, Discovery. Discusses where and when the auroras can be observed, the process that the Earth's magnetic phenomena fulfill in how and why auroras appear, and the effects of solar wind upon auroras. (JJK)

Information on how a shortwave radio can be used to make empirical observations about solar activity and the Earth's geomagnetic field is provided. How to interpret transmissions of shortwave propagation information, weather conditions, and highly accurate time signals from shortwave stations is discussed. (KR)