A magnetic moment is a quantity that represents the magnetic strength and orientation of a magnet or any other object that produces a magnetic field. More precisely, a magnetic moment refers to a magnetic dipole moment, the component of the magnetic moment that can be represented by a magnetic dipole. A magnetic dipole is a magnetic north pole and a magnetic south pole separated by a small distance.
Magnetic dipole moments have dimensions of current times area or energy divided by magnetic flux density. The unit for dipole moment in meter–kilogram– second–ampere is ampere-square meter. The unit in centimeter–gram–second electromagnetic system, is the erg (unit of energy) per gauss (unit of magnetic flux density). One thousand ergs per gauss equal to one ampere-square meter.
Following is the table explaining other dipole related concepts
| Electric Dipole |
| Torque on an Electric Dipole in an Uniform Electric Field |
| The Electric Field of a Dipole |
Derivation of Magnetic Dipole Moment Formula
Magnetic Dipole moment- The magnetic field, B due to a current loop carrying a current i of radius, R at a distance l along its axis is given by:
B =
Now if we consider a point very far from the current loop such that l>>R, then we can approximate the field as:
B =
Now, the area of the loop, A is
A =
Thus, the magnetic field can be written as
B =
We can write this new quantity μ as a vector that points along the magnetic field, so that
Notice the astounding similarity to the electric dipole field:
Thus, we call this quantity
Most elementary particles behave intrinsically as magnetic dipoles. For example, the electron itself behaves as a magnetic dipole and has a Spin Magnetic Dipole moment. This magnetic moment is intrinsic as the electron has neither an area A (it is a point object) nor does it spin around itself, but is fundamental to the nature of the electron’s existence.
We can generalize the magnetic moment for ‘N’ turns of the wire loop as
μ = NiA
The magnetic field lines of a current loop look similar to that of an idealized electric dipole:
If you have ever broken a magnet into two parts, you would have found that each piece forms a new magnet. The new pieces also contain a north and the South Pole. You just can’t seem to be able to obtain just a North Pole. Can you find the answer in this article?
What is the Magnetic Dipole Moment of a Revolving Electron?
The magnetic dipole moment of a revolving electron is given as:
The current of an electron revolving around a heavy nucleus is given as:
The magnetic moment associated to the current of an electron revolving is given as:
Substituting the angular momentum of the revolving electron we get,
l = mVR
Therefore,
The above equation is known as Gyromagnetic ratio.
How does an atom behave as a magnetic dipole?
The electrons in an atom revolve around the nucleus in a closed orbit. The orbit around the nucleus is equivalent to a current loop as the electrons are charged particles. The electrons revolve in anticlockwise while the current revolves in the clockwise direction. This movement of electrons creates a south pole and north pole resulting in atom’s behavior as a magnetic dipole.
What is Magnetic Dipole Moment of a Current Loop?
The magnetic dipole moment of a current loop carrying current I with area A is given as the magnitude of m:
The direction of the magnetic dipole moment is perpendicular to the plane of the current loop.
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