How to Colonize an Asteroid
How to Colonize an Asteroid
You can verify the existence of the electromagnetic field around a current carrying wire using a "C" cell battery, a couple of feet of wire, and a simple compass. Lay the compass flat on a table and place the middle of the wire next to the compass, parallel to the compass needle. Normally, the compass will point to the north, but if you touch the ends of the wire to the battery so that current flows, the compass will swing towards the wire, attracted by the magnetic field around that wire. When you disconnect the battery, the compass needle will again swing back to the north.{R.10.24}
WARNING! Only keep the wire connected for a few seconds at a time or it will get very hot!
The magnetic field around the wire is circular in shape. Try moving the wire across the compass, and try moving the compass around the wire.
© 1998, Robert Lyon Richards