Calculatin units for theoretical magnetic point charge

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SUMMARY

The discussion focuses on the theoretical calculations related to magnetic monopoles and the necessary alterations to Maxwell's equations. The key formula derived is the divergence of the magnetic field, expressed as div(B) = μ₀ * ρₘ, where μ₀ represents magnetic permeability and ρₘ denotes magnetic charge volume density. The user initially miscalculated the units for the theoretical magnetic point charge, qₘ, but later clarified that the correct unit for ρₘ is N/(T*m³), leading to the conclusion that qₘ has units of (N*m)/T. This highlights the importance of precise unit analysis in theoretical physics.

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  • Understanding of Maxwell's equations
  • Familiarity with magnetic permeability (μ₀)
  • Knowledge of unit analysis in physics
  • Basic concepts of magnetic charge density (ρₘ)
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IAmAZucchini
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Hi,

So, assuming the theoretical existence of a monopole, we would have to alter the maxwell equations to give the magnetic field a divergence, and also to ensure that the divergence of the curl of the electric field is still zero we would have to add a term.

The altered divergence of B would have to be
div(B) = mu0 * ROm

mu 0 being magnetic permeability and ROm being magnetic charge volume density.

I'm having trouble figuring out what the units for the theoretical magnetic point charge, qm, would be - I've figured that the units for the point charge density ROm would be Newtons/(Tesla*meters^2), which doesn't make sense to me - here's how I got it

div(B) => units Tesla/meter
Mu0 has units T/A
so ROm must have units A/m, which equates to Newtons/(Tesla*meters^2)...this doesn't make sense to me because it should be a volume density, not an area density, right?

ALSO, if you try to make an analogy to electric field - E has units of Newtons/Coulomb, and the charge unit is Coulomb - so therefore, if B has units of Tesla, then qm should have units of Newtons/Tesla. Which I guess makes sense, somewhat. HOWEVER, if you do it formally, integrating both sides of the new div(B) equation, you get that the units [qm]=(Newtons*meters)/Tesla.

Yet, with the two results that I did get, the q = ro*V rule is conserved (1/m^2 in ro, *m in q, so m^3 = V is the factor by which they differ)...in short, I've confused myself and don't know what to do.

If someone could point out a mistake in my calculations, or point me in the right direction, I would appreciate it!

Thanks muchly.
 
Last edited:
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Hi
The unit of [tex]\mu_{0}[/tex] shall be
[tex][\mu_{0}]=\frac{mT}{A}[/tex]
and therefore the unit for [tex]\rho_{m}[/tex] is
[tex][\rho_{m}]=\frac{N}{Tm^{3}}[/tex]

Hopefully this will clear up things for you
 
Oh, SNAP. Thank you!

What a silly mistake.
 

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