What is the Difference Between Electrostatic and Magnetostatic

Electrostatics and magnetostatics are two branches of physics that deal with electric and magnetic fields, respectively. They are both related to the electromagnetic force.

What is the difference between electrostatic and magnostatic? Electrostatics deals with stationary electric charges and their interactions, whereas magnetostatics deals with stationary electric currents and their associated magnetic fields.

Key Areas Covered

1. What is Electrostatic 
      – Definition, Features 
2. What is Magnetostatic
      – Definition, Features 
3. Similarities Between Electrostatic and Magnetostatic
      – Outline of Common Features
4. Difference Between Electrostatic and Magnetostatic
      – Comparison of Key Differences
5. FAQ: Electrostatic and Magnetostatic
      – Answers to Frequently Asked Questions

Key Terms

Electrostatic, Magnetostatic

What is Electrostatics

Electrostatics deals with the interactions between stationary electric charges.  The most related equation to electrostatics is Coulomb’s Law. It states that the force between two point charges is directly proportional to the product of their magnitudes and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them. This law is analogous to Newton’s law of gravitation, but it deals with electric charges instead of masses. Electrostatic charges are stored in capacitors. They consist of two conductors separated by an insulator. Capacitance is the ability to store charges in a capacitor.

Many effects and applications of electrostatic charges can be seen in day-to-day examples. Electrostatic precipitators help to remove particulate matter from industrial emissions like smoke. Here, particles that are charged are collected on oppositely charged plates. In electrostatic painting, paint particles are charged and sprayed onto the objects. Moreover, principles related to electrostatics are seen applied to laser printers and photocopiers. In the medical field, they are used in electrosurgery and electrostatic air cleaners. In consumer products, they are used in electronic devices and electrostatic dust removal. Furthermore, in the field of scientific research, they act as particle accelerators.

What is Magnetostatics

Magnetostatics is the branch of electromagnetism that deals with the study of static magnetic fields. Static magnetism means the magnetic field does not vary with time. Two main laws, Amphere’s law and Biot-Savart’s law, describe the fundamental laws of magnetostatics.

There are many applications of magnetostatics energy in day-to-day life and industrial processes. The principles of magnetostatics are found in the design and operation of electric motors and generators.  They are also used in transformers, magnetic circuit analysis, magnetic sensors, magnetic storage devices, mineral exploration, magnetic resonance imaging, magnetic levitation, and magnetic separators.

Similarities Between Electrostatic and Magnetostatic

1. Electric and magnetic field lines indicate the direction of the force experienced by a test charge or a magnetic pole, respectively.
2. Both electric and magnetic fields follow an inverse square law.
3. Both electric and magnetic fields can store potential energy.

Difference Between Electrostatic and Magnetostatic

Definition

• Electrostatics deals with stationary electric charges and their interactions, whereas magnetostatics deals with stationary electric currents and their associated magnetic fields.

Source

• In electrostatics, electric charges are the sources of electric fields, whereas in magnetostatics, moving charges (currents) or permanent magnets are the sources of magnetic fields.

Electric vs Magnetic Field

• In electrostatics, electric field lines can start and end on charges, while in magnetostatics, magnetic field lines always form closed loops.

Values

• In electrostatics, the force between charges is directly proportional to the product of the charges and inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them (Coulomb’s law). However, in magnetostatics, the force on a moving charge in a magnetic field is perpendicular to both the velocity of the charge and the magnetic field (Lorentz force law).

Governed By

• The static electric field is governed by Gauss’s law and the equation relating the electric field to the electric potential, while the static magnetic field is governed by Ampère’s law (in its magnetostatic form) and Gauss’s law for magnetism.

Conclusion

The main difference between electrostatic and magnetostatic is that electrostatic deals with stationary electric charges and their interactions, whereas magnetostatic deals with stationary electric currents and their associated magnetic fields.

FAQ: Electrostatic and Magnetostatic

1. What is the difference between electrostatic force and magnetostatic force?

Electrostatic force acts between charges at rest, while magnetostatic force acts between moving charges (currents). Electrostatic force is described by Coulomb’s law, while magnetostatic force is described by Ampère’s law.

2. What is an electrostatic and magnetic field?

An electrostatic field is a force field created by stationary electric charges. A magnetic field, on the other hand, is a force field created by moving electric charges or magnets.

3. What is the principle of electrostatics?

The principle of electrostatics is based on the behavior of electric charges at rest.  It states that like charges repel each other, while unlike charges attract each other.

4. What are 3 examples of electrostatic?

1. Static electricity: When you rub a balloon on your hair, it becomes charged and attracts small pieces of paper.
2. Lightning: A sudden discharge of electricity between the sky and the ground.
3. Photocopiers: Use electrostatic attraction to create images on paper.

5. What is the formula for electrostatic?

The electrostatic force between two charged objects is given by Coulomb’s law: F = k * q1 * q2 / r^2, where F is the force, k is the Coulomb constant, q1 and q2 are the charges, and r is the distance between them.

Reference:

1. “Electrostatics.” Encyclopedia Britannica. 
2. “Magnetostatics.” Science Direct.

Image Courtesy:

1. “VFPt Solenoid correct2” By Geek3 – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia