Glossary
Electromagnetic forces
Fundamental forces arising from the interaction of electrically charged particles, encompassing both electric and magnetic phenomena.
Example:
The static cling you feel after drying clothes is a manifestation of electromagnetic forces.
External Magnetic Field
A magnetic field produced by sources outside the system being considered, which can exert forces or torques on magnetic objects within it.
Example:
A compass needle aligns itself with Earth's External Magnetic Field.
Forces
Interactions that can cause a change in an object's motion or shape, broadly categorized as long-range or contact.
Example:
When a soccer player kicks a ball, they apply a force to change its velocity.
Generators
Devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy, typically by rotating a coil within a magnetic field to induce a current.
Example:
Wind turbines use large generators to produce electricity from the kinetic energy of wind.
Long-range forces
Forces that act on objects without requiring direct physical contact between them.
Example:
The gravitational pull of the Sun on Earth is a classic example of a long-range force.
MRI machines
Medical imaging devices that use strong magnetic fields and radio waves to create detailed images of organs and soft tissues inside the body.
Example:
Doctors use MRI machines to get clear images of brain structures without invasive surgery.
Magnetic Dipole Moments (μ)
A vector quantity that describes the strength and orientation of a magnetic dipole, calculated as the product of current and loop area (μ = IA).
Example:
The strength of a small current loop's interaction with an external magnetic field is quantified by its Magnetic Dipole Moment (μ).
Magnetic dipoles
A pair of opposite magnetic poles (north and south) separated by a distance, which creates a magnetic field.
Example:
Every tiny atom with orbiting electrons acts like a miniature magnetic dipole.
Magnetic field lines
Imaginary lines used to represent the direction and strength of a magnetic field, emerging from the north pole and entering the south pole, forming closed loops.
Example:
If you sprinkle iron filings around a bar magnet, they will arrange themselves along the magnetic field lines.
Magnetic force on a moving charge (F = q(v x B))
The vector cross product formula that quantifies the force experienced by a charged particle moving through a magnetic field, where F is force, q is charge, v is velocity, and B is magnetic field.
Example:
Calculating the deflection of an electron beam in a cathode ray tube involves applying the formula for the magnetic force on a moving charge (F = q(v x B)).
Magnetic forces
Forces that arise from the interaction between moving charged particles or magnetic materials, a type of electromagnetic force.
Example:
When you stick a refrigerator magnet to a metal surface, you are observing magnetic forces at work.
Magnetic levitation trains
Trains that hover above their tracks, propelled and guided by magnetic forces, eliminating friction and allowing for very high speeds.
Example:
The futuristic concept of a train floating above its tracks is realized by magnetic levitation trains.
Motors
Devices that convert electrical energy into mechanical energy by utilizing the interaction between magnetic fields and electric currents.
Example:
The spinning blades of a fan are powered by an electric motor.
Right-Hand Rule (RHR)
A mnemonic rule used to determine the direction of the magnetic force on a moving positive charge, or the direction of a magnetic field produced by a current.
Example:
To figure out which way a proton will deflect in a magnetic field, you'd apply the Right-Hand Rule.