Magnetväljale

Magnetväljale is the Estonian term for magnetic field. A magnetic field is a region around a magnetic material or a moving electric charge within which the force of magnetism acts. It is a vector field, meaning it has both magnitude and direction at every point in space. Magnetic fields are produced by moving electric charges, such as electric currents, and by magnetic moments of elementary particles of matter, which are intrinsically related to their quantum mechanical nature.

The strength of a magnetic field is measured in Tesla (T) in the International System of Units (SI). A related unit is the gauss (G), where 1 T = 10,000 G. Magnetic fields can be visualized using magnetic field lines, which are imaginary lines that represent the direction and strength of the field. These lines emerge from the north pole of a magnet and enter the south pole. Where the field lines are closer together, the magnetic field is stronger.

Magnetic fields have numerous applications. They are fundamental to the operation of electric motors, generators, transformers, and magnetic storage devices like hard drives. Medical imaging techniques such as MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) rely on powerful magnetic fields. The Earth itself has a magnetic field, generated by the motion of molten iron in its core, which protects us from harmful solar radiation. Understanding magnetväljale is crucial in physics, engineering, and many scientific disciplines.