Fiveable
Fiveable

Magnetic Dipole Moment

Definition

The magnetic dipole moment is a measure of the strength and orientation of a magnet or current loop in a magnetic field. It represents the product of the magnitude of either pole (north or south) and the distance between them.

Analogy

Imagine you have two equally strong magnets placed close together with their opposite poles facing each other. The force between them depends on both their strength (magnitude) and how far apart they are (distance). The product of these two factors gives you their combined effect, which is similar to the concept of a magnetic dipole moment.

Related terms

Torque on a Magnet: When a magnet is placed in an external magnetic field, it experiences torque that aligns its dipole moment with the field.

Magnetic Field Strength: This term refers to how strong or intense a given magnetic field is at any point in space.

Ampere's Law: Ampere's law relates the magnetic field around a closed loop to the electric current passing through the loop.

"Magnetic Dipole Moment" appears in:

collegeable - rocket pep

Are you a college student?

  • Study guides for the entire semester

  • 200k practice questions

  • Glossary of 50k key terms - memorize important vocab



© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.


© 2024 Fiveable Inc. All rights reserved.

AP® and SAT® are trademarks registered by the College Board, which is not affiliated with, and does not endorse this website.