2006-12-07 00:30:08 · 7 answers · asked by Dasi 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Both electric and magnetic fields are components of the electromagnetic field. An electric field always carries with it the magnetic field and vice verca. You can generate an electric field by moving a charge (like an electron moving in a wire), but with it will always come a magnetic field. The two fields are orthogonal to each other.
Maxwell's equations explain this electromagnetic behaviour beautifully. Look them up on wikipedia.
2006-12-07 00:34:21 · answer #1 · answered by Mawkish 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
The magnetic lines differ basically from electric fields.
Electric lines have a beginning and end, i.e., there are no closed lines in a constant electric field.
On the other hand, magnetic flux lines, i.e., vector lines of magnetic induction, are always closed. In other words, such lines have neither beginning nor end.
An electric field creates a force that acts on electric charges. Also, they can induce electric charges on the surface of a neutral metallic body.
Magnetic fields act on currents, moving charged bodies or particles and magnetised bodies.
2006-12-07 02:06:08 · answer #2 · answered by Pearlsawme 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
An electric field is caused by a charge (rather an excess of charge)
A magnetic field is cause by a moving charge.
In physics talk it is the differance between a dot product and a cross product. But other than that, they are the same thing.
2006-12-07 01:01:54 · answer #3 · answered by farrell_stu 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I'm assuming you are referring to the fields caused by magnets and electrical coils. Both are magnetic fields. The difference lies in what is the cause. A field caused by a magnet is permenant and constant strength. The field caused by electricity passing through a wire will only be present when current is flowing and the intensity will vary with the amount of current.
2006-12-07 02:21:07 · answer #4 · answered by namsaev 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't fall into the trap of always seeing them as requiring eachother... A magnetic field, as demostrated by a simple bar magnet, can have a magnetic field, but does it have an "electric" field? ...
According to Farady (For whom the Farad (capacitance) is named), the field surrounding any electrical charge is the electric field...
The electric field exerts force on CHARGED objects("Charge" is a function of the ratio of electron to protons in the matter)
The magnetic field exerts a force on a "Moving Charge".
Sorry this isn't more clear, but really, the concept to these two fields and their inerrelation is the subject of much academic research even yet.
2006-12-07 01:02:32 · answer #5 · answered by GeoffHubbard 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
In physics, the space surrounding an electric charge has a property called an electric field, In physics, a magnetic field is that part of the electromagnetic field that exerts a force on a moving charge.
2006-12-07 00:34:54 · answer #6 · answered by (,") Verns (",) 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
They are both force fields, except that electrical field exerts a force (either an attraction or repulsion) on an isolated charge, while magnetic field exerts a force (either an attraction or repulsion) on a magnetic pole.
2006-12-07 05:35:39 · answer #7 · answered by pete 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋