18. Magnetic Dipoles

• Course Home
• Syllabus
• Electric Fields

  • 1. Introduction to Electric Fields
  • 2. Math Review, Fields
  • 3. Electric Fields and Discrete Charge Distributions
  • 4. Electric Fields and Continuous Charge Distributions
  • 5. Gauss's Law
• Electric Potential

  • 6. Discrete and Continuous Distributions of Charge
  • 7. Equipotential Lines and Electric Fields
  • 8. Gauss's Law and Configuration Energy
• Capacitors

  • 9. Conductors and Insulators, Conductors as Shields
  • 10. Capacitance and Capacitors, Energy Stored in Capacitors
  • 11. Capacitors and Dielectrics
• Circuits

  • 12. Current, Current Density, Resistance, and Ohm's Law
  • 13. Batteries and Circuit Elements
  • 14. DC Circuits
  • 15. DC Circuits with Capacitors
• Magnetic Fields and Forces

  • 16. Magnetic Field
  • 17. Magnetic Forces
  • 18. Magnetic Dipoles
• Creating Magnetic Fields

  • 19. Biot-Savart Law
  • 20. Ampere's Law
• Faraday's Law

  • 21. Faraday's Law
  • 22. Inductance and Magnetic Energy
  • 23. RL Circuits
• Oscillating Circuits

  • 24. Undriven RLC Circuits
  • 25. Driven RLC Circuits
• Maxwell's Equations

  • 26. The Displacement Current and Maxwell's Equations
  • 27. Poynting Vector and Energy Flow in a Capacitor
• Electromagnetic Waves

  • 28. Maxwell's Equations and Electromagnetic Waves
  • 29. Energy and Momentum in Electromagnetic Waves
  • 30. Generating EM Waves, Dipole Radiation and Polarization
• Nature of Light

  • 31. Interference
  • 32. Diffraction
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Learning Objectives

• To be able to describe what a magnetic dipole is and to be able to calculate the magnetic dipole moment.
• To be able to comprehend and explain when a magnetic dipole in an external magnetic field will feel a force and a torque.

Preparation

Course Notes

Read through the course notes.  The course note files may also contain links to associated animations or interactive simulations. 

The Magnetic Field (PDF)

Learning Activities

Guided Activities

Read through the class slides. They explain all of the concepts from the module.

Slides (PDF)

Self-Assessment

Do the Concept Questions first to make sure you understand the main concepts from this module. Then, when you are ready, try the Challenge Problems.

Concept Questions

Concept Questions (PDF)

Solutions (PDF)

Challenge Problems

Challenge Problems (PDF)

Solutions (PDF)

Problem Solving Help

Watch the Problem Solving Help video for insights on how to approach and solve problems related to the concepts in this module.

Problem: Torque on a Current Loop

A rectangular loop of current carrying wire is pivoted on one of its sides. That side is horizontal, along the z-direction. The loop sits in a magnetic field in the y-direction, which is vertical. The wire loop is at an angle θ to the vertical because of the torque due to this vertical magnetic field. What is the magnitude of the magnetic field, in terms of the mass of the loop, the current I in the wire, and the angle θ?

Related Visualizations

The visualizations linked below are related to the concepts covered in this module.

• The Dip Needle
• The Earth and a Giant Dip Needle (Far)
• Charge Moving in a Magnetic Field (Front)
• The Dip Needle

 

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