Magnetic ux

This article is about magnetic ux. For the magnetic eld, where each point in space (and time) is associated
elds B (magnetic ux density) and H, see magnetic with a vector that determines what force a moving charge
eld.
would experience at that point (see Lorentz force). Since
a vector eld is quite dicult to visualize at rst, in elementary physics one may instead visualize this eld with
In physics, specically electromagnetism, the magnetic
ux (often denoted or B) through a surface is the sur- eld lines. The magnetic ux through some surface, in
face integral of the normal component of the magnetic this simplied picture, is proportional to the number of
eld B passing through that surface. The SI unit of eld lines passing through that surface (in some contexts,
magnetic ux is the weber (Wb) (in derived units: volt- the ux may be dened to be precisely the number of eld
seconds), and the CGS unit is the maxwell. Magnetic lines passing through that surface; although technically
ux is usually measured with a uxmeter, which contains misleading, this distinction is not important). Note that
measuring coils and electronics, that evaluates the change the magnetic ux is the net number of eld lines passing
of voltage in the measuring coils to calculate the magnetic through that surface; that is, the number passing through
in one direction minus the number passing through in the
ux.
other direction (see below for deciding in which direction
the eld lines carry a positive sign and in which they carry
a negative sign). In more advanced physics, the eld line
1 Description
analogy is dropped and the magnetic ux is properly dened as the surface integral of the normal component of
the magnetic eld passing through a surface. If the magnetic eld is constant, the magnetic ux passing through
a surface of vector area S is
B = B S = BS cos ,
where B is the magnitude of the magnetic eld (the magnetic ux density) having the unit of Wb/m2 (tesla), S is
the area of the surface, and is the angle between the
magnetic eld lines and the normal (perpendicular) to S.
For a varying magnetic eld, we rst consider the magThe magnetic ux through a surface when the magnetic netic ux through an innitesimal area element dS, where
eld is variable relies on splitting the surface into small we may consider the eld to be constant:
surface elements, over which the magnetic eld can be
considered to be locally constant. The total ux is then a
formal summation of these surface elements (see surface dB = B dS.
integration).
A generic surface, S, can then be broken into innitesimal
elements and the total magnetic ux through the surface
is then the surface integral

B dS.

B =
S

From the denition of the magnetic vector potential A

Each point on a surface is associated with a direction, and the fundamental theorem of the curl the magnetic ux
called the surface normal; the magnetic ux through a may also be dened as:
point is then the component of the magnetic eld along
this direction.
I
B = A d,
The magnetic interaction is described in terms of a vector
S
1

3 MAGNETIC FLUX THROUGH AN OPEN SURFACE

where the line integral is taken over the boundary of the

surface S, which is denoted S.

3 Magnetic ux through an open

surface
Main article: Faradays law of induction
While the magnetic ux through a closed surface is al-

Magnetic ux through a closed

surface

For an open surface , the electromotive force along the surface

boundary, , is a combination of the boundarys motion, with
velocity v, through a magnetic eld B (illustrated by the generic
F eld in the diagram) and the induced electric eld caused by
the changing magnetic eld.

ways zero, the magnetic ux through an open surface

need not be zero and is an important quantity in electromagnetism. For example, a change in the magnetic ux
passing through a loop of conductive wire will cause an
electromotive force, and therefore an electric current, in
the loop. The relationship is given by Faradays law:
I
Some examples of closed surfaces (left) and open surfaces (right).
Left: Surface of a sphere, surface of a torus, surface of a cube.
Right: Disk surface, square surface, surface of a hemisphere.
(The surface is blue, the boundary is red.)

E=

(E + v B) d =

dB
,
dt

where
E is the electromotive force (EMF),

Main article: Gausss law for magnetism

B is the magnetic ux through the open surface ,

Gausss law for magnetism, which is one of the four

Maxwells equations, states that the total magnetic ux
through a closed surface is equal to zero. (A closed surface is a surface that completely encloses a volume(s)
with no holes.) This law is a consequence of the empirical observation that magnetic monopoles have never been
found.

is the boundary of the open surface ; note

that the surface, in general, may be in motion
and deforming, and so is generally a function of
time. The electromotive force is induced along
this boundary.

In other words, Gausss law for magnetism is the statement:

v is the velocity of the boundary ,

d is an innitesimal vector element of the contour ,

E is the electric eld,
B is the magnetic eld.

B =

B dS = 0

for any closed surface S.

The two equations for the EMF are, rstly, the work per
unit charge done against the Lorentz force in moving
a test charge around the (possibly moving) surface
boundary and, secondly, as the change of magnetic
ux through the open surface . This equation is the
principle behind an electrical generator.

3
Gausss law gives the relation between the electric
ux owing out a closed surface and the electric
charge enclosed in the surface.
Magnetic circuit is a method using an analogy with
electric circuits to calculate the ux of complex systems of magnetic components.
Magnetic monopole is a hypothetical particle that
may loosely be described as a magnet with only 1
pole.
Magnetic ux quantum is the quantum of magnetic
ux passing through a superconductor.
Carl Friedrich Gauss developed a fruitful collaboration with the physics professor Wilhelm Weber; it
led to new knowledge in the eld of magnetism.
Area dened by an electric coil with three turns.

Comparison with electric ux

Main articles: Electric ux and Gausss law

James Clerk Maxwell demonstrated that electric and

magnetic forces are two complementary aspects of
electromagnetism.

6 External articles

By way of contrast, Gausss law for electric elds, another Patents

of Maxwells equations, is
Vicci, U.S. Patent 6,720,855, Magnetic-ux conduits
E =

E dS =

Q
0

where
E is the electric eld,
S is any closed surface,
Q is the total electric charge inside the surface
S,
0 is the electric constant (a universal constant,
also called the "permittivity of free space).
Note that the ux of E through a closed surface is
not always zero; this indicates the presence of electric
monopoles, that is, free positive or negative charges.

See also
Magnetic eld
Flux
Maxwells equations (sometimes called the Maxwell
equations) are the set of four equations, attributed to
James Clerk Maxwell, that describe the behavior of
both the electric and magnetic elds, as well as their
interactions with matter.

Magnetic Flux through a Loop of Wire by Ernest

Lee, Wolfram Demonstrations Project.
Conversion Magnetic ux in nWb per meter track
width to ux level in dB - Tape Operating Levels and
Tape Alignment Levels

7 TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES

Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses

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Magnetic ux Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_flux?oldid=656259004 Contributors: Bryan Derksen, Andre Engels, Peterlin~enwiki, Waveguy, Heron, Bdesham, Michael Hardy, Tim Starling, Kku, Stevenj, Muriel Gottrop~enwiki, Reddi, Grendelkhan, Itai,
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