About the force on a magnetic dipole
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31349/RevMexFisE.22.010220Keywords:
Magnetic force; magnetic dipole; Maxwell equations; momentum balance equations; hidden momentumAbstract
There is disagreement about which is the correct expression for the force on a magnetic dipole, and at least two expressions for this force have been proposed, generating a controversy between Vaidman [1985] and Franklin [2018]. Our view here exposed is that the macroscopic Maxwell equations and the constitutive relations imply, via electromagnetic momentum balance equations, several force densities which include those proposed by some authors. Therefore, the question is not which one is correct, since all are legitimate deductions of Maxwell´s equations, but under what conditions they may be useful to explain some phenomena. The discussion of conceptual problems of electromagnetism is very useful to both graduate students and researchers.
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