What gives rise to a magnetic moment in a proton/neutron?

AI Thread Summary
Magnetic moments arise from the intrinsic properties of particles, particularly their spin and charge. Protons and neutrons, which are made up of quarks, possess a magnetic moment due to their spin and the movement of these charged quarks. While classical views suggest that moving charges generate magnetic fields, intrinsic properties like spin also contribute to magnetic moments, even in stationary particles. This means that both charged and uncharged particles can exhibit magnetic moments based on their inherent characteristics. Understanding these concepts is crucial for grasping the behavior of protons and neutrons in magnetic fields.
pbutter
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Homework Statement


Describe, with examples, what is meant by magnetic moment. What gives rise to a magnetic moment in a proton/neutron?

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The Attempt at a Solution


I know what a magnetic moment is, just struggling with the other parts of the question.
So what I'm thinking is that an electron orbiting generates a magnetic moment since it is a charged particle moving in a circle. In the same way the spin of a nucleus generates a magnetic moment since the nucleus is comprised of charged quarks which are spinning when the proton/neutron is spinning. Is this correct?
 
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No, it is not correct. Your view of how things work is way too classical. Why do you think an electron has a magnetic moment? (It is a point particle.)
 
Electron generates a magnetic field when it travels in a circle (I x A)
 
Also how would a magnetic moment be generated in a neutron/proton, is it just be because of the spin that it has or is it just some inherent property that we have learned to accept but no answer
 
pbutter said:
Electron generates a magnetic field when it travels in a circle (I x A)
No, even a stationary electron has a magnetic moment.
 
I think I'm sort of getting it spin is just something that elementary particles have. It is intrinsic to them and anything charged with a spin/angular momentum will have a magnetic moment.
 
pbutter said:
I think I'm sort of getting it spin is just something that elementary particles have. It is intrinsic to them and anything charged with a spin/angular momentum will have a magnetic moment.
Even uncharged particles can have an intrinsic magnetic moment, but yes, it is a property of the elementary particle. Just as elementary particles have mass or charge, they in general have an intrinsic angular momentum and magnetic moment.
 
The question was about a proton or neutron, not electron.
 
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