Magnetic Energy formulas, units, and examples

[Clarkie]

1. My teacher has given me a poster board to do on magnetic energy even though she has explained nothing about the subject, nor is there anything in my book. I am looking for the formula for finding magnetic energy and examples from everyday life.

All I got was 1/2BH, but I have no idea what that stands for (the B and the H?). I am guessing the unit is joules as for all the other energies.

 

[berkeman]

1. My teacher has given me a poster board to do on magnetic energy even though she has explained nothing about the subject, nor is there anything in my book. I am looking for the formula for finding magnetic energy and examples from everyday life.

All I got was 1/2BH, but I have no idea what that stands for (the B and the H?). I am guessing the unit is joules as for all the other energies.

Here is a basic web page that will get you started. Please read it over, and post specific questions here if you have them.

Welcome to the PF!

 

[nlightner]

First of all, it is important to clarify that magnetic energy is a form of potential energy that is stored in the magnetic field surrounding a magnet or a current-carrying wire. It is not the same as electromagnetic energy, which is a form of energy that includes both electric and magnetic components and is associated with electromagnetic waves.

The formula for calculating magnetic energy is indeed 1/2BH, where B represents the strength of the magnetic field and H represents the magnetic field intensity. The unit for magnetic energy is joules, which is the same unit used for other forms of energy.

To better understand this formula, let's break it down. The strength of the magnetic field (B) is measured in teslas (T) and represents the amount of force exerted by the magnetic field on a unit of charge. The magnetic field intensity (H) is measured in amperes per meter (A/m) and represents the amount of magnetic field produced by a current-carrying wire.

An example of magnetic energy in everyday life is the magnetic energy stored in a refrigerator magnet. When the magnet is placed on the fridge, it is able to hold up papers and photos due to the magnetic energy stored in its magnetic field. Another example is the magnetic energy stored in an MRI machine, which uses strong magnetic fields to produce images of the body's internal structures.

I would recommend doing some research and asking your teacher for more information on magnetic energy to fully understand the concept and its applications. Additionally, you can explore other formulas and units related to magnetism, such as magnetic flux and magnetic moment, to deepen your understanding of the subject. Good luck with your poster board project!