An Undergraduate Course in Applied Magnetics

This paper points out a need for better education in applied magnetics in order to serve a broad spectrum of electrical engineering interests. Described here is a proposed partial solution to this need, an undergraduate course that demonstrates the wide applicability of a few fundamental principles. Two introductory concepts of the course are the characterization of a magnetic device in units of volt-seconds versus current, and the definition of a piecewise linear magnetic model. These are illustrated by an example in the Appendix. The piecewise linear model provides a point of departure for the study of magnetic materials while also allowing some analytical relief to the empirical aspects of magnetics design.