Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: The magnetic field is traditionally presented as a (pseudo)vector quantity, tied closely to the cross product. Though familiar to experts, many students find these ideas challenging and full of subtleties. Building on earlier work in rotational physics, we present an alternative pedagogical approach that describes magnetic fields using bivectors. These objects can be visualized as oriented tiles whose components form an antisymmetric matrix. Historically, bivectors have been mostly used in specialized contexts like spacetime classification or geometric algebra, but they are not necessarily more complicated to understand than cross products. Teaching magnetism in this language addresses common student difficulties, generalizes directly to relativity (and extra dimensions), and brings fresh insight to familiar ideas.
Source: American Journal of Physics
DOI: 10.1119/5.0176852
Author: Steuard Jensen
Institution: Alma College
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4404591015