Can Strong Magnetic Fields Effectively Move Water Molecules?

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SUMMARY

Strong magnetic fields have a negligible effect on water molecules due to their weak diamagnetic properties. Water, being a polar molecule, exhibits very slight repulsion in a magnetic field, requiring an extraordinarily strong magnet, such as a 10 gigatesla field, to observe any significant interaction. The discussion highlights the confusion between magnetic and electric fields, emphasizing that electric fields have a much stronger influence on water molecules, particularly at low temperatures. The consensus is that while magnetic fields can affect water, the practical implications are minimal.

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  • Knowledge of molecular polarity and dipole moments
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fredreload
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Can a strong magnetic field move water molecules because it is a polar molecule. How strong does the field need to be?
 
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Since when magnetic field interacts with stationary charges?
 
Water molecule has an electric dipole, so if it is possible to change its orientation in magnetic field, maybe it is possible to move it?
 
Have you came across this in your research of this topic?
 
You might be confusing magnetic field with electric field. A strong electric field and low temperature should cause the water molecules to line up. I don't know if this would form a weird solid-ish phase.
 
fredreload said:
How bout giving water a magnetic moment then moving it with electric field?

I don't believe the electric field has any effect on magnetic moments.
 
How about electric field effect on magnet, since electric field attracts or repels charges such as electrons and protons. I should say water molecules being passed through a magnetic field instead of magnetic moment.
 
fredreload said:
How about electric field effect on magnet, since electric field attracts or repels charges such as electrons and protons. I should say water molecules being passed through a magnetic field instead of magnetic moment.

The magnet has a neutral electric charge, so nothing will happen. And water molecules are only very very weakly diamagnetic, and will be very slightly repelled by a magnetic field. But it takes an extremely strong magnet to even notice the effect.
 
  • #10
You are right, the effect of an electric field on water seems to be much stronger.
 
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  • #11
fredreload said:
You are right, the effect of an electric field on water seems to be much stronger.


Interesting. I would not have guessed that the water would have been attracted to the rod.
 
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  • #12
Really? I believe the same effect is achieved with a charged balloon.
 
  • #13
Drakkith said:
...
And water molecules are only very very weakly diamagnetic, and will be very slightly repelled by a magnetic field. But it takes an extremely strong magnet to even notice the effect.

A 10 gigatesla field ... would be lethal even at a distance of 1000 km, tearing tissues due to the diamagnetism of water. At a distance halfway to the moon ... could strip information from the magnetic stripes of all credit cards on Earth.

From [en.wikipedia.org].
 

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