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Formative assessment questions for teaching physics

A2L Item 233

  • Description: Identify the current configuration causing the largest magnetic field at a specified point.
  • Goal: Reasoning regarding magnetic fields caused by current elements
  • Source: 283-655 Ordering magnetic field magnitudes
  • Keywords: Current, Electromagnetism, Magnetic Field

The question for students:

Order the following situations according to the magnitude of the magnetic field at the point P. Order from highest to lowest.

Item233_fig1.gif

  1. ABCD
  2. ADBC
  3. BDAC
  4. CADB
  5. DABC
  6. None of the above

Commentary for teachers:

Answer

(6) This question poses a good exercise for students. They can reason comparatively without having specific expressions for the field contributions from wires or loops. The order is CDBA.