Physics Let's prove the 4th Maxwell Equation   4th Maxwell Equation     Subject Electromagnetism Level Upper secondary Language English Type Execise, lecture   Teaching electro-magnetism is sometimesnot easy. Even if today it is possible to realise many experiments that prove a lot of laws, it is difficult to show that a time-varying electric field generates a magnetic field. We want to fill this hole by building a cheap device that highlights this phenomena. The core of the system is a big condenser with two circular plates separated by a polystyrene dielectric. By applying a medium frequency sinusoidal voltage, we compare the magnetic field near the dielectric with the magnetic field generated by the current flowing through the conductors connected to the condenser (at the same distance from the axis of the system) showing that its amplitude does not vary, according to the displacement current concept. TO understand the experiment, it is necessary to understand other electromagnetic phenomena (i.e. Biot-Savart and Faraday induction laws) that are demonstrated by a preliminary set of classical experiments. These lab activities were proposed by the students of a secondary school. The tests submitted to the students highlighted a good understanding of the displacement current concept.     Contact details   Name Carla Lesion Email carlalesino@libero.it       Last update: 17 July 2007 More Physics Teaching Ideas  •  A Boomerang Project (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMLVJC4VUE_0.html)  •  "Seeing" Alternating Current (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEM3HKC4VUE_0.html)  •  A Merry-go-round as Alternative to the Wind Tunnel (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMWO8ANMUE_0.html)  •  Electrodynamic Levitation and Travelling Magnetic Wave (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMFA58OY2F_0.html)  •  You Can Do It (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMRE58OY2F_0.html)  •  Irish Teaching Ideas Booklets from POS2 and POS3 (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMTO58OY2F_0.html)  •  A Bottle of Water with a Sachet of Mayonnaise (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMJ468OY2F_0.html)  •  Handling the Canter of Mass (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMQ968OY2F_0.html)  •  Reflection Study (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMCO78OY2F_0.html)  •  Testing UV Absorption Effectiveness of Sun Screen (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMM888OY2F_0.html)  •  E=mc2 (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEM3G88OY2F_0.html)  •  The Magic Castle (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMBZ88OY2F_0.html)  •  Leonardo's Anemometer (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMND98OY2F_0.html)  •  The Physics Teacher (http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Science_on_Stage/SEMH4H8OY2F_0.html) Download  •  The 4th Maxwell Equation PPT (http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/scienceonstage/IT_Lesino_Maxwell.ppt)