The new generation of electromagnetic field simulators can be used for teaching electromagnetism with no user's deep knowledge about the methodology used to develop these computer programs. The theory of the cylindrical coaxial line is used to illustrate the application of these programs as teaching tools. The analytical solution of the problem is used to assess the accuracy of the numerical results produced by different subdivisions of the finite element meshes. The relationship between energy minimality and distribution of electric potentials is used to explain how different discretizations of the model affect the computation of the electromagnetic variables. The definition of an exterior problem to model the coaxial structure allows the analysis of leakage fields at the end-zone and improves the accuracy of capacitance calculation.
axisymmetry; electric fields; finite element methods; variational methods
