The study of the ideal solenoid is a common topic among introductory-based physics textbooks1–4 and a typical current arrangement in laboratory hands-on experiences where the magnetic field inside a solenoid is determined at different currents and at different distances from its center using a magnetic probe. It additionally provides a very simple scenario in which Ampère's law can easily be applied by using a rectangular area that is pierced by a certain number of turns of the solenoid. The integration path is laid out in such a way so that part of it lies outside the solenoid; in so doing, the familiar result
is obtained, where μ is the magnetic permeability, N is the number of turns of the solenoid, L is the length, and I is the current.2
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VPYTHON is a free programming language that combines PYTHON with a 3-D graphic module that allows for easy visualization. It can be downloaded at http://vpython.org/.
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