Dipole momentum of the electrons

[yyouth24]

We know that same charges repel and opposite attract them selfs. So if the electrons have dipole magnetic momentum, how will they repel, if they get closer with their opposite poles of the dipoles? Thank you.

 

[Meir Achuz]

In Classical EM, the Coulomb force between two electrons is repulsive and F_c~1/r^2.
The magnetic dipole-dipole force can be repulsive or attractive,depending on their orientation, and F_m~1/r^4. This means that at close enough distances
(less than about 10^-10 cm) the magnetic attraction could be larger.
However, at such a short distance, quantum mechanics has to be used.
It is true that at very high energies, where the electrons can come close together, the magnetic force dominates over the electric force.

 

[astrokreng]

The concept of dipole momentum in electrons refers to the alignment of their magnetic moments in a specific direction. This alignment occurs due to the movement of electrons around the nucleus of an atom. The repulsion between same charges and attraction between opposite charges is a fundamental principle in physics, known as Coulomb's Law. However, in the case of dipole momentum, the repulsion or attraction between electrons is not solely based on their charges, but also on the orientation of their magnetic moments.

When two electrons with dipole magnetic moments get closer, their magnetic moments may align in opposite directions, resulting in a repulsive force. This is because the electrons are like tiny magnets, and when their opposite poles are brought close together, they will repel each other, similar to how two bar magnets would repel each other when their opposite poles are brought together.

On the other hand, if the electrons' magnetic moments align in the same direction, they will experience an attractive force. This is because the electrons' magnetic fields will reinforce each other, creating a stronger magnetic field that pulls the electrons towards each other.

In summary, the dipole momentum of electrons can cause both repulsion and attraction, depending on the orientation of their magnetic moments. This phenomenon is crucial in understanding the behavior of atoms and molecules and plays a significant role in various scientific fields, including chemistry and materials science.