W07D1

Magnetic Dipoles, Force and

Torque on a Dipole, Experiment 2
W07D1 Magnetic Dipoles, Torque and Force on a Dipole,
Experiment 2: Magnetic Dipole in a Helmholtz Coil
http://web.mit.edu/8.02t/www/materials/Experiments/expMagForcesDipoleHelmholtz.pdf

Reading Course Notes: Sections 8.4, 8.6.4, 8.10.4, 8.13, 9.5, 9.9
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Announcements
Exam Two Reviews:
Monday from 7-9 pm in 26-152
Tuesday from 9-11 pm in 26-152
Wednesday from 9-11 pm in 26-152
PS 6 due W07 Tuesday at 9 pm in boxes outside 32-082 or 26152
Exam 2 Thursday March 21 7:30 - 9:30 pm: See announcement
pages for section room assignments
Conflict Friday March 22 9-11 am in 32-082; 10-12 noon in 6120
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Magnetic Field of Bar Magnet

(1) A magnet has two poles, North (N) and South (S)
(2) Magnetic field lines leave from N, end at S

Magnetism Bar Magnet

Like poles repel, opposite poles attract

Bar Magnets Are Dipoles!

Create Dipole Field
Rotate to orient with Field
Is there magnetic mass
or magnetic charge?

NO! Magnetic monopoles do not exist in isolation

5

p
Magnetic Monopoles?

Electric Dipole
-q

Magnetic Dipole

When cut:
2 monopoles (charges)

When cut: 2 dipoles

Magnetic monopoles do not exist in isolation

Another Maxwells Equation! (2 of 4)

r r qin
E

d
A

S
0
Gausss Law

r r

B dA 0
S

Magnetic Gausss Law

Conservation of Magnetic Flux:

r r qin

S E dA 0

r r

B dA 0
S

Torque on a Current Loop in a

Uniform Magnetic Field

Review: Magnetic Force on CurrentCarrying Wire

If the wire is a uniform magnetic field then

Fmag

r
r
Id s B

wire

If the wire is also straight then

r
r r
Fmag I (L B)
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Group Problem: Current Loop

Place rectangular current loop in uniform B field
1) What is the net force on
this loop?
2) What is the net torque
on this loop?
3) Describe the motion the
loop makes

j
k

i
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Torque on Rectangular Loop

r
IABj
Area vector

j x
i

r
A An abn

r
n k , B =B i

r r
r
IA B
No net force but there is a torque
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Magnetic Dipole Moment

r
r
IA n IA

http://web.mit.edu/viz/EM/visualizations/magnetostatics/calculatingMagneticFields/RingMagField/RingMagField.htm

Torque on Current Loop

Place rectangular current loop in uniform B field
Magnetic moment points
out of the page

r r r
B

r r r
B = Bj IABj

j
k

torque tries to align the

magnetic moment vector
in the direction of the
magnetic field
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Concept Question: Magnetic Field Lines

The picture shows the field lines outside a
permanent magnet The field lines inside the
magnet point:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.

Up
Down
Left to right
Right to left
The field inside is zero
I dont know
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Concept Q. Answer: Magnetic Field Lines

Answer: 1. They point up inside the magnet

Magnetic field lines are continuous.

E field lines begin and end on charges.
There are no magnetic charges (monopoles)
so B field lines never begin or end

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Demonstration:
Deflection of a Compass Needle by a
Magnet G1
http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=G%201&show=0

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Demonstration:
Galvanometer principle G10

http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=G%2010&show=0

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Concept Question: Dipole in Field

From rest, the coil above will:

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.

rotate clockwise, not move

rotate counterclockwise, not move
move to the right, not rotate
move to the left, not rotate
move in another direction, without rotating
both move and rotate
neither rotate nor move
I dont know

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Concept Q. Answer: Dipole in Field

Answer: 1. Coil will rotate clockwise (not move)

No net force so no center of mass motion. BUT
Magnetic dipoles rotate to align with external
field (think compass)

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Force on a Dipole in a NonUniform Field

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Dipoles dont move???

This dipole rotates but
doesnt feel a net force
in a uniform magnetic
field

But dipoles can

feel magnetic
force.
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Dipoles in Non-Uniform Fields:

Magnetic Force

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Concept Question: Dipole in Field

The current carrying coil above will feel a net force

1.
2.
3.
4.

upwards
downwards
of zero
I dont know

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Concept Q. Answer: Dipole in Field

Answer:
2.
Feels
downward
force.
The
forces
shown
r
r r
dFmag I (d s B) produce a net downward force
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Force on Magnetic Dipole

N

N
S

What makes the field pictured? Bar magnet

below dipole, with N pole on top. It is aligned with
the dipole pictured, they attract!

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Work Done by Interaction to Anti-align

Magnetic Dipole

r r r
B = - B sin k z k

W z d B sin d B cos
0

2 B
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Potential Energy: Dipole in Magnetic Field

r
r
U U ( ) U ( 0) W 2 B B
Set zero reference point

U ( / 2) 0

r r
U ( ) B

Lowest energy state (aligned) :

U ( 0) B

Highest energy state (anti-aligned): U ( ) B

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Force on Magnetic Dipole

N

N
S

r
r r r
Bz
F ( B) z
k
z

along z-axis
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Magnetic Field Profiles Experiment 2

Concept Question: Dipole in Helmholtz

A dipole pointing along
the positive x-direction
and located at the center
of a Helmholtz coil will
feel:
1.
2.
3.
4.

a force but not a torque.

a torque but not a force.
both a torque and a force.
neither force nor torque.

Concept Q. Answer: Dipole in Helmholtz

Answer: 2. a torque but not

a force. The Helmholtz coil
makes a UNIFORM FIELD.
Dipole feels only torque
(need gradient for force).

Concept Question: Dipole in AntiHelmholtz Coil

A dipole pointing along
the positive z-direction
and located at the center
of an anti- Helmholtz coil
will feel:
1.
2.
3.
4.

a force but not a torque.

a torque but not a force.
both a torque and a force.
neither force nor torque.

Concept Q. Answer: Dipole in AntiHelmholtz Coil

Answer: 1. A force
because there is a gradient
in the magnetic field but no
torque because the
magnetic field at the center
is zero.

Experiment 2:
Magnetic Forces on Dipole
in Fields of Helmholtz Coil

Getting Started: Set up current supply

Open circuit (disconnect a lead)
Turn current knob full CCW (off)
Increase voltage to ~12 V
This will act as a protection: V<12 V
Reconnect leads in Helmholtz mode
Increase current to ~1 A

Appendix Experiment 2:
Magnetic Forces on Dipole
in Fields of Helmholtz Coil
Field Configurations and Concept
Questions

Appendix 2:
Gausss Law for Magnetism

Animation: Magnetic Field Generated by

a Current Loop

http://web.mit.edu/viz/EM/visualizations/magnetostatics/calculatingMagneticFields/RingMagInt/RingMagIntegration.htm
38

Demonstration:
Magnetic Field Lines
from Bar Magnet G2
http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=G%202&show=0

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