- #1
Kalrag
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Alright, this one is really bugging me. Are protons magnetic. Are they attracted to a magnet or can the be controlled by a magnet?
Are Protons Magnetic? Answers to Your Questions
In summary, protons are not attracted to magnets, but they do have a magnetic moment. Neutrons are also magnetic, but their magnetic moment is much weaker. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) works because protons in the body are magnetic and the MRI scanner can detect this by measuring the strength of the magnetic field.
- #2
cragar
- 2,552
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They have a Magnetic moment and so do neutrons .
- #3
Idoubt
- 172
- 1
yes they can be controlled magnetically, that's how particle accelerators work.
- #4
Kalrag
- 104
- 0
So is that also true for neutrons. That they can be controlled by magnets?
- #5
Dale
Mentor
- 35,628
- 13,985
That is also how magnetic resonance imaging works.Idoubt said:
- #6
cragar
- 2,552
- 3
Yes but their B field is very weak.Kalrag said:
- #7
Sakha
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Kalrag said:
Just to clear a point: a magnetic field will not do work on the proton. It will accelerate the proton in a circular way, just changing the direction but not the magnitude.
- #8
JDługosz
- 346
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Individual protons are magnetic in the same sense as individual electrons! They are both charged spin-1/2 particles.
- #9
granpa
- 2,268
- 7
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G-factor
electron fudge factor
proton and neutron fudge factor
muon fudge factor
electron fudge factor
proton and neutron fudge factor
muon fudge factor
- #10
JDługosz
- 346
- 0
granpa said:
Other than being more massive, can you explain what the differences are? How does this affect its motion, in contrast to (just) its mass and charge?
- #11
granpa
- 2,268
- 7
We would expect magnetic moment and angular momentum to always be proportional to each other.
They arent.
Hence the fudge factors.
They arent.
Hence the fudge factors.
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- #12
K^2
Science Advisor
- 2,470
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What you said is true for CONSTANT magnetic field. A gradient in the field can accelerate a magnetic moment.Sakha said:
- #13
QuantumPion
Science Advisor
Gold Member
- 902
- 42
Idoubt said:
This doesn't sound right to me. Particle accelerators use magnetic fields to curve the path of protons but this is due to the proton's electric charge moving through an external magnetic field, not the proton's magnetic moment.
FAQ: Are Protons Magnetic? Answers to Your Questions
1. Are protons magnetic?
Yes, protons are considered to be magnetic. They have a magnetic moment, which means they have a north and south pole just like a bar magnet.
2. What causes a proton to be magnetic?
The magnetic property of a proton is caused by its spin. Spin is an intrinsic property of particles, and it causes them to behave like tiny bar magnets.
3. How does a proton's magnetic property affect its behavior?
A proton's magnetic property affects its behavior in the presence of a magnetic field. It will align itself with the magnetic field and can be moved or manipulated by the field.
4. Can protons be used for magnetic imaging?
Yes, protons are commonly used in magnetic imaging techniques such as MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The protons in our body align with the magnetic field and can be detected to create a detailed image.
5. Do all protons have the same magnetic strength?
No, the strength of a proton's magnetic field can vary depending on its surroundings. It can also be affected by the presence of other particles and their magnetic moments.