Velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field

In summary, the provided conversation discusses the force between magnetic poles, the motion of magnets, and the relationship between force and distance. It is important to note that there is no such thing as a magnetic monopole and that the motion of a magnetic dipole in an inhomogeneous magnetic field is the most realistic example. The provided link about "magnetic poles" is misleading and the rest of the page is incorrect. Therefore, the original question about calculating the force between two magnets does not make much sense and the answers provided in the conversation are correct.
  • #1
jmmy
9
0
So if we can one large not moving magnet and a small magnet that is attracted to the large magnet we know that ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnet ) F = μ qm1 qm2 /(4 pi r^2). Here the small magnet is traveling in a straight line because it is attracted by the large magnet.

Where F is force (SI unit: Newton) qm1 and qm2 are the magnitudes of magnetic poles (SI unit: ampere-meter) μis the permeability of the intervening medium (SI unit: tesla meter per ampere, henry per meter or Newton per ampere squared) r is the separation (SI unit: meter).

To calculate the velocity equation can we equate mass * acceleration = F = μ qm1 qm2 /(4 pi r^2) and integrate for acceleration? this yields Velocity = constant/ r. I was wondering if this is correct. Thank you.
 
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  • #2
The formula you copied is the force between magnetic monopoles. They do not exist in nature (or at least no monopoles were found yet), real magnets always have two opposite poles, and you have to consider this to calculate the force.
Here the small magnet is traveling in a straight line because it is attracted by the large magnet.
That does not follow from the formula. Earth is attraced by the sun, but we do not fall in a straight line into sun.

To calculate the velocity equation can we equate mass * acceleration = F = μ qm1 qm2 /(4 pi r^2) and integrate for acceleration?
Not in the way you describe it, but it can be done. Energy conservation is easier here - find the potential, use that the sum of kinetic and potential energy is constant.
 
  • #3
thanks but the response does not answer the question and is wrong

check the following:

http://geophysics.ou.edu/solid_earth/notes/mag_basic/mag_basic.html

as you know if you keep on magnet fixed and you have another magnet some distance apart they attract if their poles are opposite

what is the force to characterize these two in terms of distance? the further away the weaker the force and as they get closer the stronger the force

as they more toward each other, what is the equation of acceleration and velocity?
 
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  • #4
jmmy said:
thanks but the response does not answer the question and is wrong

check the following:

http://geophysics.ou.edu/solid_earth/notes/mag_basic/mag_basic.html

It seems to say just what the response you said was wrong said. I don't know why you said the response was wrong, it looks OK to me.

Specifically, from the reference you quote:

Magnetic Dipole

In nature we find dipoles, not monopoles
A dipole consists of two poles of opposite polarity and equal strength.

Have physicists seen magnetic monopoles?

The strength of a dipole depends on strength of magnetization of poles and their separation, and is a vector quantity known as dipole moment, which is analogous to mass in gravity:

M = ml

where M is a vector directed from the negative pole to the positive pole
The dipole moment is analogous to mass
As we shall see, though, unlike mass, for which potential drops off like 1/r, the potential field of a dipole drops off like 1/r2 (field drops off like?)

This seems to me to say essentially the same thing MFB said to you earlier.

mfb said:
The formula you copied is the force between magnetic monopoles. They do not exist in nature (or at least no monopoles were found yet), real magnets always have two opposite poles, and you have to consider this to calculate the force.

I'm afraid I don't understand the question you are asking if the above doesn't answer it. Perhaps you could try clarifying what you meant to ask.
 
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  • #5
It seems to me that jmmy is looking for a method to calculate the excerted force on the small magnet at a certain length from the big magnet. So he can use integrals or derivatives to obtain velocity and acceleration functions.

... And then he can also calculate 'work' done if he really need it for his application.

NONE of the replies, including this one, have solved jmmy issue.

P.S.: jmmy didn't asked for conservation of 'energy'.
 
  • #6
thanks but the response does not answer the question and is wrong
It is correct, but maybe it is not what you expected.
Why do you think that it does not answer the question?

inelwk22 said:
P.S.: jmmy didn't asked for conservation of 'energy'.
It is the easiest method to get the velocity as function of distance.
 
  • #7
I also think the question has been properly answered. I'll try to clarify the issue:

The provided link about "magnetic poles" is misleading without further explanations. There is no such thing as a magnetic monopole. That's why in nature there is nothing like a Coulomb-like interaction between magnetic poles. The most simple realistic example thus is the motion of a magnetic dipole in an (inhomogeneous) magnetic field.

It should also be added that the rest of this page is as misleading (if not to say wrong!) as its beginning. A magnetic field usually has no scalar potential. Even if you only look at magnetostatics in the vacuum you have (in Heaviside-Lorentz units)
[tex]\vec{\nabla} \cdot \vec{B}=0, \quad \vec{\nabla} \times \vec{B}=\vec{j}.[/tex]
The first equation tells you that there are no magnetic charges (or monopoles as they are called in the literature), and the second equation tells you that there is no scalar potential for the magnetic field, where non-vanishing current densities are present, and somewhere there must be such currents, because otherwise there wouldn't be magnetic fields. Note that also permanent magnets are described by these Maxwell equations. You only have to set [itex]\vec{j}=c \vec{\nabla} \times \vec{M}[/itex], where [itex]\vec{M}[/itex] is the magnetization of the permanent magnet.

So your original question doesn't make much sense, and that's why the answers you got are perfectly to the point and correct!
 
  • #8
Look what I am asking is very simple, I think many think in complected terms so forget about the theory or textbook questions for a minute,

do you agree if you have 2 magnets they will attract each other and move toward each other (nobody mentioned monopoles) if their opposite poles face each other?

it does not require the maxwell equations to know this

just take 2 magnets and you will see that eventually they will stick together

the force obeys the inverse square law (just like gravity)

so my question is what is the equation of speed and acceleration for this type of attraction?
 
  • #9
do you agree if you have 2 magnets they will attract each other and move toward each other (nobody mentioned monopoles) if their opposite poles face each other?
Right.

the force obeys the inverse square law (just like gravity)
Wrong. In general, it is a complicated function of distance. With a separation much larger than the size of the objects, I think it is proportional to 1/r^4.

so my question is what is the equation of speed and acceleration for this type of attraction?
For an inverse square law:
$$a=\frac{F}{m}=\frac{c}{r^2}$$$$v^2(r)=\frac{c'}{r}-\frac{c'}{r_0}$$

For a general 1/r^n-law: $$a=\frac{F}{m}=\frac{c}{r^n}$$$$v^2(r)=\frac{c'}{r^{n-1}}-\frac{c'}{r_0^{n-1}}$$

Both c and c' are constants which depend on the strength of the interaction, the masses and so on. The formula for the velocity assumes that the objects are at rest at a radius r0.
 
  • #10
Expressions based on constant magnitude 'point' dipole model will be ok for relatively large separations, but breaks down otherwise, for two reasons. At close range one needs to integrate over a volume distribution of elemental dipoles, so magnet shape is important. Also for real magnets magnetization is never completely uniform or saturated. There will be some mutual change in magnetization as the fields interact strongly, though relatively small in the case of 'neo' permanent magnets which exhibit strong remanence (resistance to demagnetizing).
 
  • #11
well i did this experiments in liquid
one magnet fixed
one magnetized micro-particle

turns out v= constant/r fits my data exactly
 
  • #12
v=constant/r would correspond to v^2=c'/r^2 or a 1/r^3-force.
However, the liquid could change that completely.
 

FAQ: Velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field

1. What is the velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field?

The velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field depends on several factors such as the strength of the magnetic field, the mass of the magnet, and the angle at which it enters the field. It can be calculated using the equation v = B*q/m, where B is the magnetic field strength, q is the charge of the magnet, and m is its mass.

2. How does the velocity of a magnet affect its interaction with a magnetic field?

The velocity of a magnet determines the strength of its interaction with a magnetic field. A higher velocity means a stronger force acting on the magnet, while a lower velocity results in a weaker force. The direction of the velocity also determines the direction of the force exerted on the magnet.

3. Can the velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field change?

Yes, the velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field can change. This can happen if the strength of the magnetic field or the mass of the magnet changes, or if the angle at which the magnet enters the field changes. Additionally, external forces such as friction can also affect the velocity of the magnet.

4. What is the relationship between the velocity of a magnet and the induced current?

The velocity of a magnet and the induced current are directly proportional. This means that as the velocity of the magnet increases, the induced current also increases. This is due to the changing magnetic field created by the moving magnet, which induces a current in nearby conductors.

5. How is the velocity of a magnet traveling in a magnetic field measured?

The velocity of a magnet can be measured using various methods, such as a speedometer or a timer. One common method is to measure the distance the magnet travels in a fixed amount of time. The velocity can then be calculated using the formula v = d/t, where d is the distance and t is the time taken.

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