Capacitor has no magnetic field, Why?

In summary, a magnetic field is generated between the plates of a capacitor due to the displacement current when it charges up, but there is no time averaged magnetic field on a fully charged capacitor. This is because the direction of the magnetic moments of electrons is random and their magnetic fields cancel out at any given point. However, there may be small transient magnetic fields caused by thermal and quantum fluctuations. These fluctuations also contribute to the noise in electronic circuits.
  • #1
Ruptor
18
0
We know that magnetic fields are generated by moving electrons so there is a magnetic field between the plates of a capacitor due to the displacement current when it charges up. I don't understand why there is no magnetic field on the plate of a capacitor when it is fully charged because electrons are supposed to have a magnetic moment or field of their own and I would have thought that the increased density of electrons on the capacitor plate would exhibit a magnetic field.
 
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  • #2
where is there a net current on a charged capacitor?
 
  • #3
Ruptor said:
We know that magnetic fields are generated by moving electrons so there is a magnetic field between the plates of a capacitor due to the displacement current when it charges up. I don't understand why there is no magnetic field on the plate of a capacitor when it is fully charged because electrons are supposed to have a magnetic moment or field of their own
Where did you get that idea? You just said that magnetic fields are generated by moving electrons. Electrons that are not moving do not have a magnetic field.

and I would have thought that the increased density of electrons on the capacitor plate would exhibit a magnetic field.
 
  • #4
The electron has a magnetic field as well as angular momentum so they say here
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/spin.html
So even though electrons don't move through space they have a field like a mini magnet so why doesn't a cloud of electrons give a magnetic field? Perhaps because they are inhomogenous?
 
  • #5
Yes electrons do have an intrinsic magnetic dipole moment, because they have spin 1/2. This is the whole premise behind the Stern-Gerlach experiment, and one of the fundamental building blocks of quantum mechanics.

The reason a charge distribution (whether electrons on a capacitor plate, or along a wire or whatever) doesn't have an associated magnetic field is because the electron spins are randomly orientated, and the contribution of their magnetic fields sum to zero.
 
  • #6
Ruptor said:
We know that magnetic fields are generated by moving electrons so there is a magnetic field between the plates of a capacitor due to the displacement current when it charges up. I don't understand why there is no magnetic field on the plate of a capacitor when it is fully charged because electrons are supposed to have a magnetic moment or field of their own and I would have thought that the increased density of electrons on the capacitor plate would exhibit a magnetic field.

There is no time averaged magnetic field on a fully charged capacitor. The direction of the magnetic moments of electrons is random. The magnetic fields caused by "individual electrons" add up linearly at every point within the capacitor. The total magnetic field at anyone point adds up to zero vector, or to a fluctuating magnetic field very close to a zero vector.

There are transient magnetic fields in a capacitor on an atomic time scale caused by thermal fluctuations and quantum fluctuations. However, they are generally too small to be significant.

In terms of practical electronics, one can say that part of the "noise" on a circuit is due to random fluctuations in the velocity and spin orientation of each electron. Shot noise is caused by electric currents caused by "quantum fluctuations" in individual electrons. Thermal noise is also caused by the "classical fluctuations" in individual electrons. These sources of noise are have to be modeled using statistics.
 

1. Why do capacitors not have a magnetic field?

Capacitors have two plates that store equal and opposite charges, which creates an electric field between them. Since there is no current flowing through the capacitor, there is no movement of charges and thus no magnetic field is produced.

2. How is the magnetic field in a capacitor different from that of an inductor?

In capacitors, the magnetic field is created by the movement of charges between two plates, whereas in inductors, the magnetic field is created by the current flowing through a coil. Additionally, the magnetic field in a capacitor is constantly changing as the charges move back and forth, while the magnetic field in an inductor is constant as long as there is current flowing through it.

3. Can a capacitor ever produce a magnetic field?

Technically, yes. If there is a current flowing through the capacitor, then there will be a magnetic field produced. However, under typical conditions, capacitors are used to store and manipulate electric fields, not magnetic fields.

4. What effect does a magnetic field have on a capacitor?

A magnetic field can induce a current in a nearby conductor, which can then affect the charge on the plates of a capacitor. This is known as electromagnetic interference (EMI) and can cause unwanted fluctuations in the capacitor's voltage.

5. Are there any exceptions to the rule that capacitors do not have a magnetic field?

Yes, there are some types of capacitors, such as electrolytic capacitors, that use a conductive liquid or gel as one of the plates. In these cases, a magnetic field may be produced due to the movement of the conductive material. However, this is not a significant factor in the overall function of the capacitor and can usually be ignored.

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