A Magnetic Misconception on Divergence 0/Closed Field Lines?

  • #1
walkeraj
17
4
Question: Can we ultimately atttribute no work or net zero work done by a magnetic force to the closed magnetic field lines that results in Divergence zero of a magnetic field? That is, is it a misconception to say that closed magnetic field lines imply magnetic force will always result in no net work?

(I meant misconception on my part not theory.)

Edit: Why misconception? Now switch to electric field. The field lines between two opposite electric test charges are also closed and resemble that of a bar magnet, though electric in nature. Does it hold? Is it enough to say that since the field lines are closed between the two test charges that no net work can ever be done?
 
Last edited:
Physics news on Phys.org
  • #2
Work done by a magnetic force on what ? Electric charge ?
 
  • #3
Electric charge is all I can see (thinking back to Griffith's book).
 
  • #4
Consider the electric field of an idealized electric dipole. It has only closed field lines, but it can do work on a charge.
 
  • Like
Likes Vanadium 50

Similar threads

Replies
22
Views
940
  • Classical Physics
Replies
16
Views
264
Replies
14
Views
665
Replies
7
Views
2K
  • Electromagnetism
Replies
7
Views
994
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
182
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
383
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
1
Views
405
  • Introductory Physics Homework Help
Replies
12
Views
250
Replies
1
Views
1K
Back
Top