In electromagnetism, there are two kinds of dipoles:
An electric dipole deals with the separation of the positive and negative charges found in any electromagnetic system. A simple example of this system is a pair of electric charges of equal magnitude but opposite sign separated by some typically small distance. (A permanent electric dipole is called an electret.)
A magnetic dipole is the closed circulation of an electric current system. A simple example is a single loop of wire with constant current through it. A bar magnet is an example of a magnet with a permanent magnetic dipole moment.Dipoles, whether electric or magnetic, can be characterized by their dipole moment, a vector quantity. For the simple electric dipole, the electric dipole moment points from the negative charge towards the positive charge, and has a magnitude equal to the strength of each charge times the separation between the charges. (To be precise: for the definition of the dipole moment, one should always consider the "dipole limit", where, for example, the distance of the generating charges should converge to 0 while simultaneously, the charge strength should diverge to infinity in such a way that the product remains a positive constant.)
For the magnetic (dipole) current loop, the magnetic dipole moment points through the loop (according to the right hand grip rule), with a magnitude equal to the current in the loop times the area of the loop.
Similar to magnetic current loops, the electron particle and some other fundamental particles have magnetic dipole moments, as an electron generates a magnetic field identical to that generated by a very small current loop. However, an electron's magnetic dipole moment is not due to a current loop, but to an intrinsic property of the electron. The electron may also have an electric dipole moment though such has yet to be observed (see electron electric dipole moment).
A permanent magnet, such as a bar magnet, owes its magnetism to the intrinsic magnetic dipole moment of the electron. The two ends of a bar magnet are referred to as poles—not to be confused with monopoles, see Classification below)—and may be labeled "north" and "south". In terms of the Earth's magnetic field, they are respectively "north-seeking" and "south-seeking" poles: if the magnet were freely suspended in the Earth's magnetic field, the north-seeking pole would point towards the north and the south-seeking pole would point towards the south. The dipole moment of the bar magnet points from its magnetic south to its magnetic north pole. In a magnetic compass, the north pole of a bar magnet points north. However, that means that Earth's geomagnetic north pole is the south pole (south-seeking pole) of its dipole moment and vice versa.
The only known mechanisms for the creation of magnetic dipoles are by current loops or quantum-mechanical spin since the existence of magnetic monopoles has never been experimentally demonstrated.
The term comes from the Greek δίς (dis), "twice" and πόλος (polos), "axis".
Molecular dipole moment?
What is a Molecular Dipole moment. My book explains it but i still don't get it. And here is a problem that ask me about it.
Which molecule in each pair has the greater dipole moment
a. SO2 or SO3
b. ICl or IF
c. SiF4 or SF4
d. H2O or H2S
Give the reason for...
could anyone compare the behaviors of (1) an object with a net charge but no dipole moment and (2) an object with net charge but with a dipole moment when placed in the electric field produced by an INFINITE line charge?
thankyou
(Sorry for the duplicate post but I couldn't delete the old one in classical physics and didn't see this forum until I posted the original)
This is a homework question so please do not just tell me the answer, but please point me in the right direction.
A dipole layer, D(y,z), exists on...
This is a homework question so please do not just tell me the answer, but please point me in the right direction.
A dipole layer, D(y,z), exists on the plane x=0. Find the boundary conditions (discontinuities, if any) for [phi](x,y,z), E_x(x,y,z),
E_y(x,y,z), and E_z(x,y,z) across the...
Attempts to find logical link between weak forces of a long-range interaction and strong forces of a short-range interaction reduce us in the most improbable suppositions.
In my opinion, one of such suppositions (see attached file) can be tested by an experimental way.
Water is a dipole right? Having a slightly positive side and a negative side.
If this is true, then won't water molecules have a certain arrangement or pattern? Due to the "poles" attracting and repelling?
Just like how magnets, which when stuck on sticks in a grid format, will...