Magnetic energy and electrostatic potential energy are related by Maxwell's equations. The potential energy of a magnet of magnetic moment \( {\mathbf {m}} \) in a magnetic field \( \mathbf {B} \) is defined as the mechanical work of the magnetic force (actually magnetic torque) on the re-alignment of the vector of the magnetic dipole moment and is equal to:
\( {\displaystyle E_{\rm {p,m}}=-\mathbf {m} \cdot \mathbf {B} } \)
while the energy stored in an inductor (of inductance L) when a current I flows through it is given by:
E \( {\displaystyle E_{\rm {p,m}}={\frac {1}{2}}LI^{2}.} \)
This second expression forms the basis for superconducting magnetic energy storage.
Energy is also stored in a magnetic field. The energy per unit volume in a region of space of permeability \( {\displaystyle \mu _{0}} \) containing magnetic field \( \mathbf {B} \) is:
\( {\displaystyle u={\frac {1}{2}}{\frac {B^{2}}{\mu _{0}}}} \)
More generally, if we assume that the medium is paramagnetic or diamagnetic so that a linear constitutive equation exists that relates \( \mathbf {B} \) and \( \mathbf{H} \) , then it can be shown that the magnetic field stores an energy of
\( {\displaystyle E={\frac {1}{2}}\int \mathbf {H} \cdot \mathbf {B} \ \mathrm {d} V} \)
where the integral is evaluated over the entire region where the magnetic field exists.[1]
References
Jackson, John David (1998). Classical Electrodynamics. New York: Wiley.
External links
Magnetic Energy, Richard Fitzpatrick Professor of Physics The University of Texas at Austin.
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