Does Orbiting a Charged Planet Create a Constant and Positive B Field?

  • Context: Graduate 
  • Thread starter Thread starter cragar
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Charged Planet
Click For Summary

Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the behavior of magnetic fields (B fields) in the context of orbiting charged planets and spherical shells. Participants explore whether a charged planet or shell generates a magnetic field observable from an orbiting frame, considering various configurations and charge distributions.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant questions whether orbiting a charged planet would result in the observation of a magnetic field from their frame of reference.
  • Another participant asserts that a charged orbiting body would indeed produce a magnetic field, influenced by the charge distribution and rotation of the planet.
  • A later post suggests that orbiting inside a uniformly charged spherical shell would not result in the observation of a magnetic field, as the electric field inside would be zero.
  • Some participants propose that the magnetic field inside a spinning charged sphere could be constant and positive, although this claim is not universally accepted.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on the existence and characteristics of magnetic fields in various scenarios, indicating that multiple competing perspectives remain unresolved.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions regarding charge distribution and the effects of rotation that are not fully explored, leading to potential limitations in the conclusions drawn by participants.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those studying electromagnetism, particularly in the context of charged bodies and their interactions in orbital dynamics.

cragar
Messages
2,546
Reaction score
3
If I am orbiting a charged planet that is like being in free-fall around the planet.
So would I see a B field in my frame? Is me orbiting the planet the same as me floating in space and have the planet rotate.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You would see a magnetic field. If you are charged as well, it would give an additional force downwards/upwards (depending on the charges).
If the charge is distributed on the surface (or the whole volume), a rotating planet would give a magnetic field, too - it would look different, but its shape really depends on the system where the field is calculated.
 
So would I see a B field in my frame? Is me orbiting the planet the same as me floating in space and have the planet rotate.

yes;no
 
What if I was orbiting inside a spherical shell with charge on it, would I see a B field then?
The E field would be zero inside the charged shell.
 
What if I was orbiting inside a spherical shell with charge on it, would I see a B field then?
The E field would be zero inside the charged shell.

as would the magnetic field...assuming the charge is uniformly distributed...
 
B field inside a spinning charged sphere is constant and positive
 

Similar threads

Creating a Habitable Planet with 3 Moons
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
4K
Undergrad Charge movement relative to magnetic field frame dependence/invariance
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
2K
Graduate Gravity and radiation from charge
  • · Replies 5 ·
Replies
5
Views
1K
High School Does the Electric Field Change When One Charge Moves Relative to Another?
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Graduate A charged conducting ring rotating B field -- referece frames
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
High School Why doesn't a charged particle moving at a constant speed radiate?
  • · Replies 2 ·
Replies
2
Views
2K
Undergrad Can nested solenoids trap particles?
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
1K
Undergrad How Does Mass Influence Spacetime Curvature?
  • · Replies 13 ·
Replies
13
Views
2K
Graduate N-Body Simulations of Chaos in the Orbits of Trappist System Planets
  • · Replies 12 ·
Replies
12
Views
3K
High School Understanding the electric field
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
2K