Electric and magnetic fields have a connection in which a change in one causes a change in the other. Both types of fields oscillate back and forth and make up an electromagnetic wave.
The attraction and repulsion of electric charges produce both electric and magnetic fields. On the other hand, moving electric charges generate a magnetic effect, whereas stationary charges cause an electric field.
Electric Field vs Magnetic Field
The difference between Electric Field and Magnetic Field is that an electric field generates an electric charge. On the other hand, magnetic field produces an electric charge around revolving magnets. The symbol for the electric field is E, whereas the symbol for the electric field is B.
Electric field subsequently has an effect on other adjacent charges, causing forces to be exerted on them. The direction in which a positive charge would be driven is determined by the electric field strength, which is a vector. Other charges exert forces on electric charges; for example, two positive charges repel each other. We explain this by noting that an electric charge puts up an electric field around it.
Magnetic fields surround material objects and magnetic materials. These fields are affected by other magnetized objects and by moving electric charges (such as electrical currents). Magnetic field strength is measured in tesla units in SI and Gauss units in cgs. Magnetic forces occur between electrically charged particles (i.e., electrons, protons, and ions), both of their own accord, and when a steady current flows through a nearby wire or another conductor.
Comparison Table Between Electric Field and Magnetic Field
| Parameters of Comparison | Electric Field | Magnetic Field |
| Formula | The formula for the electric field is N/C (Newton/ Coulomb). | Magnetic field= Tesla or wb/m2 is the magnetic field formula. |
| Proportionality | The electric charge is proportional to the electric field. | The speed of an electric charge is proportional to the magnetic field. |
| Monopoles | Monopoles (single charges) occur in an electric field. | Only dipoles and not monopoles occur in a magnetic field. |
| Unit | The newton per coulomb, or volt per meter, is a unit of measurement for the electric field. | Gauss or tesla are units of measurement for magnetic fields. |
| Symbol | E is the symbol for the electric field. | B stands for the magnetic field. |
| Dimension | A two-dimensional electric field exists. | Three-dimensional magnetic fields exist. |
| Measured by | An electrometer is used to measure an electric field. | The magnetometer is used to measure the magnetic field. |
| Generated by | An electric field generates an electric charge. | Around revolving magnets, a magnetic field produces an electric charge. |
What is Electric Field?
When the charge is present in any form, the electric field is a property that is connected with each point in space. The value of E, also known as electric field strength, represents the size and direction of an electric field.
Electric fields are one of the fundamental descriptors of electromagnetic phenomena. They are utilized to describe the effects of electric charges and other sources anchored in each point in space. The measure used to represent the value of an electric field is called electric field strength. V/m is the unit of measurement for the electric field.
There are two ways electric fields may be described:
Intensity: The strength of an electric field at a certain area is measured by its intensity. It can be expressed as E=∫E dA, where E stands for electric field strength, and dA denotes overall integration space.
Direction: The direction of the electric field gives information about which force will act upon a charged particle that enters the field. Electric fields point from positive to negative charges and damage to positive charges. A right-hand rule can be applied to determine the direction: if your fingers curl from positive to negative charges, then your thumb will point in the direction of the electric field vector.
What is Magnetic Field?
A magnetic field, often known as an electric current or a charging electric field, is a vector field in the vicinity of a magnet. Magnetic forces can be seen in this area.
Magnetic fields and electric fields are two sides of the same coin: they are related to a phenomenon known as electromagnetic induction.
The term “electromagnetic” in “magnetic field” can be understood from this perspective: when changing electric fields create changes in current, magnetic fields are generated. Magnetic field lines point away from positive charges and toward negative charges.
A magnetic field has a unique direction at any given point but no preferred direction. In contrast, an electric field (produced, for example, by static electricity) has a “positive side” and a “negative side,” and if undisturbed, would always point back to the opposing side.
Magnetic fields are caused by moving electric charges. When a charge is in motion, it generates a magnetic field that interacts with other magnetic fields. An isolated magnetic monopole has not been found and is not predicted by the standard model of particle physics.
Magnetic forces occur between currents (moving charged particles), between magnets (atoms with unpaired electrons), between moving charges, and between magnets and moving charges. Magnetic forces give rise to the electromagnetic force, which interacts with the electromagnetic force due to charges.
Main Differences Between Electric Field and Magnetic Field
- An electric field produces an electric charge. On the other hand, a magnetic field develops an electric charge around spinning magnets.
- The newton per coulomb, or volt per meter, is an electric field measuring unit, whereas Gauss or tesla are magnetic field measurement units.
- The electric field is represented by the letter E, whereas the magnetic field is represented by the letter B.
- In an electric field, there is a two-dimensional electric field, but in a magnetic field, there are three-dimensional magnetic fields.
- In an electric field, monopoles (single charges) form. In a magnetic field, however, only dipoles and not monopoles exist.
- An electrometer is a device that is used to measure electric fields, whereas magnetic field is measured using a magnetometer.
Conclusion
The electric and magnetic fields in an electromagnetic field move in perpendicular directions. Connection of Electric Field and Magnetic Field is necessary for the cosmos to function as it does now.
The units used to express the electric and magnetic field intensities are also different. Gauss or Tesla units are used to expressing the intensity of a magnetic field. The strength of an electric field is measured in Newtons per Coulomb or Volts per Meter.
References
- https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/abstract/document/8038826/
- https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1088/0031-9155/55/9/N03/meta