The torque on a dipole in uniform motion

2013/08/21 by David J. Griffiths, V. Hnizdo · 1 voice · 7 citations
Physics and Astronomy · #Classical mechanics #Condensed matter physics #Constant (computer programming) #Dipole #Electric dipole moment #Experimental and Theoretical Physics Studies #Geometry #Ideal (ethics) #Magnetic dipole #Motion (physics) #Physics #Point (geometry) #Quantum and Classical Electrodynamics #Quantum electrodynamics #Quantum mechanics #Scientific Research and Discoveries #Torque #physics.class-ph

paper · pdf · doi:10.1119/1.4862136

published in American Journal of Physics 82(3), 251-254 (American Institute of Physics) · Spurious endnotes removed; as it will appear in Am. J. Phys

arxiv published 2013/08/21 · arxiv created 2014/01/18 · arxiv updated 2014/01/18 · openalex publication_date 2014/02/26 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/06

Abstract

We calculate the torque on an ideal (point) dipole moving with constant velocity through uniform electric and magnetic fields.

Citations

• Trouble with the Lorentz Law of Force: Incompatibility with Special Relativity and Momentum Conservation
• Mansuripur's paradox
• Dipoles at rest
• Torque and force on a magnetic dipole

Discussions

• The moving magnet has "hidden angular momentum" in the lab frame, resulting in a torque given by its rate of change as $${\bf T} = -\frac{{\bf v}}{c^2} \times ({\bf m} \times {\bf E})\ ,$$ where quant [stackexchange, 0 points]

Related

• Torque on slowly moving electric or magnetic dipoles in vacuo
• Torque and force on a magnetic dipole
• Dipoles at rest
• Force on slowly moving variable electric or magnetic dipoles in vacuo
• Electric dipole in a magnetic field: some aspects of the problem