How Fast Does a Magnetic Field Propagate?

AI Thread Summary
Magnetic fields propagate at the speed of light, regardless of the medium, whether in a vacuum or through air. The strength of the magnet does not affect the propagation speed of the magnetic field. A standing magnetic field is considered a relativistic phenomenon rather than a force field akin to gravity. For a deeper understanding, Maxwell's equations and Relativistic Electrodynamics provide essential insights. Overall, the discussion emphasizes the consistent speed of magnetic field propagation and its theoretical underpinnings.
mordechai9
Messages
204
Reaction score
0
How fast does the magnetic field propagate from a magnetic source? In a vacuum versus through air, etc.? Does the magnetic field propagate faster from a stronger magnet?

What is the makeup of a standing magnetic field? Electromagnetic waves or a force field more similar to gravity?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
mordechai9 said:
Electromagnetic waves or a force field more similar to gravity?

I can only say that both electromagnetic waves and gravity fields move at the speed of light.

i.e. If the sun suddenly stopped existing, the Earth would begin to get out of its orbit at the the same moment it became dark. (About 8 minutes)
 
That's not really an answer to the question whatsoever...
 
Yes it is. Magnetic fields move at the speed of light.
 
mordechai9 said:
How fast does the magnetic field propagate from a magnetic source?
See above.
In a vacuum versus through air, etc.?
What does that mean ? It's not even a sentence.

Does the magnetic field propagate faster from a stronger magnet?
No.

What is the makeup of a standing magnetic field?
Don't know.
Electromagnetic waves or a force field more similar to gravity?
Magnetic fields are relativistic apparitions. You can usually transform them away. So not at all like gravity.

That's not really an answer to the question whatsoever...
Not polite.

Look up Maxwell's equations and Relativistic Electrodynamics on Wiki.
 

Thread 'how to picture the vector potential'

Susskind (in The Theoretical Minimum, volume 1, pages 203-205) writes the Lagrangian for the magnetic field as ##L=\frac m 2(\dot x^2+\dot y^2 + \dot z^2)+ \frac e c (\dot x A_x +\dot y A_y +\dot z A_z)## and then calculates ##\dot p_x =ma_x + \frac e c \frac d {dt} A_x=ma_x + \frac e c(\frac {\partial A_x} {\partial x}\dot x + \frac {\partial A_x} {\partial y}\dot y + \frac {\partial A_x} {\partial z}\dot z)##. I have problems with the last step. I might have written ##\frac {dA_x} {dt}...
View full post »
Thread 'Griffith, Electrodynamics, 4th Edition, Example 4.8. (Second part)'

Thread 'Griffith, Electrodynamics, 4th Edition, Example 4.8. (Second part)'

I am reading the Griffith, Electrodynamics book, 4th edition, Example 4.8. I want to understand some issues more correctly. It's a little bit difficult to understand now. > Example 4.8. Suppose the entire region below the plane ##z=0## in Fig. 4.28 is filled with uniform linear dielectric material of susceptibility ##\chi_e##. Calculate the force on a point charge ##q## situated a distance ##d## above the origin. In the page 196, in the first paragraph, the author argues as follows ...
View full post »

Similar threads

I Is This Correct Description of Magnetic Saturation?
Replies
14
Views
2K
I Charge movement relative to magnetic field frame dependence/invariance
Replies
5
Views
969
I Behaviour of Magnetic Fields Underwater
Replies
2
Views
3K
I Simple electromagnetic wave including delay
Replies
2
Views
1K
I Does displacement current create a magnetic field? And Lorentz force?
Replies
10
Views
2K
I How induction works within a coil (nuances of it)
Replies
6
Views
2K
I Effect of Fringe Fields for a Bending (Dipole) Magnet on Field Integral?
Replies
0
Views
1K
B Experiment issues (electromagnetism)
Replies
42
Views
2K
I Homopolar generator question: Magnetic “wake”
Replies
7
Views
3K
B Are magnetic fields generated through radio frequencies?
Replies
16
Views
2K

Hot Threads

Recent Insights

Back
Top