This application visualizes the magnetic field lines generated by two interactive permanent magnets on a grid. You can observe how the magnetic fields interact with each other and change as you move the magnets.
This visualization allows a better understanding of how magnetic fields interact.
Understanding Magnetic Fields
Magnetic field lines conventionally originate from the North pole and enter the South pole of a dipole magnet. The density and opacity of these vector lines and arrows give an indication of the field strengths and directions. The stronger fields have denser and more opaque representations while the weaker fields are less opaque. Observe how lines curve and interact between the two magnets or when poles are flipped.
## Main Screen Features
The main screen displays a grid where two moveable magnets titled M1 and M2 are placed. Animated arrows moving indicate the direction of the magnetic fields at various points. The relative strength of the fields are shown by the brightness of the vectors.
### Basic Interaction
- **Moving Magnets**: Tap and drag either magnet to move it around the grid. The interaction of the vector field lines will update as you drag the magnets.
- **Zoom Feature**: Click anywhere on the grid and you will see a Zoom box in the upper left showing each magnet's north and south vectors direction and the strength as a function of brightness. The white vector is the resultant vector of the north and south vectors of the M1 and M2 magnets.
### Information Display
At the bottom of the screen are 3 lines of information:
1. The first line shows the grid block number, resultant vector strength and direction of the M1 and M2 vector fields
2. The second line shows the M1 Magnet strength and direction for each M1 Pole
3. The third line shows the M2 Magnet strength and direction for each M2 Pole
## Options Menu
You can use the Options button on the main screen AppBar to launch all options that are available.
### Available Options
- **Pause Animation Icon**: Will stop the animation arrows from moving
- **Show North and South Components Icon**: Will toggle the main screen between showing the north and south vectors for each magnet and the resultant vector for each grid block
- **Flip Magnet Poles Icon**: This reverses the Poles on the M1 magnet. Note when the poles of M1 and M2 are opposite and the Magnets are put on top of each other the direction and strength of the magnet poles cancel out so there are no resultant vectors
- **Hide Resultant Icon**: This will add or remove the resultant vector from the zoom box
- **Block Size Icon**: This allows changing the grid block size which is useful to see enlarged vectors, or smaller ones that help show the animations of the vector fields moving
### Slider Controls
The 3 slider bars allow manipulating:
- The length of the vector lines
- The animation loop frequency
- The brightness of the vectors
**Please Note**: The brighter you make the vectors the less the vector strength will be observed, however making the vectors brighter will then be easier to see. The vector strength can still be seen in the 3 information lines at the bottom of the screen when you click on a grid block.
## Additional Features
### Compass Feature
There will be a compass beside the sliders if your device supports a magnetometer sensor in it. Most newer mobile phones and tablets have this sensor. If you click on the compass, a zoomed compass page will allow you to use the app as a regular compass.