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Name: Sean P. M.
Status: other
Age: 40s
Location: N/A
Country: N/A
Date: 2001-2002
Question:
Does Magnetic force have Quantum characteristics? Can we have a photon of magnetic energy? Okay I recall a photon is a disturbance in the Electo-magnetic fields. So is magnetism a property of space then?

Replies:
Sean,

Magnetism is a property of moving charges. The motion of electric charge (as well as its spin) causes magnetic fields to occur in the space around the charge, in circular patterns around the charge's path of motion. A charge moving or spinning through this field experiences a magnetic force. The same happens in reverse. One way to view things is that space "communicates" the magnetic force between the moving charges. To have magnetic force without electric force, you need opposite charges: one moving fast, one moving slow. One way to do this is to have one of the charges much more massive than the other: an atom.

Dr. Ken Mellendorf
Physics Instructor
Illinois Central College


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