[William Myres]

William Myres asked the Naked Scientists:
   
Is the magnetic force stronger than the electric force? Also, would conservation of energy make the energy equal in magnetic & electric fields in photons? But do the forces differ? If so, by how much?

What do you think?

[acsinuk]

Good question William
I think the magnetic dark force is much greater that any electrostatic force in space; as it can cause Faraday rotation of plasma in space but I am not sure of its effect in vibrating a photon.
CliveS 

[Geezer]

Good question William
I think the magnetic dark force is much greater that any electrostatic force in space; as it can cause Faraday rotation of plasma in space but I am not sure of its effect in vibrating a photon.
CliveS 

What on Earth do you mean by "the magnetic dark force"? Is that something that was discovered in Star Wars?

[maffsolo]

Good question William
I think the magnetic dark force is much greater that any electrostatic force in space; as it can cause Faraday rotation of plasma in space but I am not sure of its effect in vibrating a photon.
CliveS 

What on Earth do you mean by "the magnetic dark force"? Is that something that was discovered in Star Wars?

I don't want to disrupt your soon tio be a perfect relationship with the forces
I would suggest to try  Googling this phrased question...

"Is LOVE the strongest force in the universe?"

It may seem to have an endless reply supplied

[QuantumClue]

It's a strange question, one I do not readily have an answer for, because electric forces and magnetic forces are the same thing...

[William Myres]

My understanding of vector analysis & partial differential equations is pretty thin,,, hence my questions. But I've read that magnetism is weaker by some factor of the speed of light, and is also called a tiny leftover of the electric force. And that electric forces do not dominate because they are so consistently balanced. Even though, (if I understand correctly) Magnetism is weaker by 10 to 8th, up to 10 to 16th,,,electromagnetism is
SO STRONG that the leftover is very powerful.--- I'm really confused by the photon which (again if I'm correct) alternates between to very different strength forces,,,does one dominate? If so, to what effects?

[Soul Surfer]

Magnetism exists as a relativistic effect associated with moving electrical charge and is therefore considerably weaker BUT electrical charge is usually quickly balanced out and even though short range magnetic fields fall off as the inverse cube of distance very weak magnetic fields associated with moving plasma (ionised atoms)  can exert a significant effect over large distances and long time periods.  It is only relatively recently that the effect that these forces could have on the way structures form and move on a galactic scale and larger is being recognised.  The extremely weak fields involved are very difficult to measure.

[granpa]

the attractive magnetic force between 2 electrons moving parallel to each other near the speed of light is nearly equal to the repulsize electric force between them.

[William Myres]

Dear Soul Surfer,,, Inverse square not cube

Dear grandpa, there is no attraction between electrons, the magnetic force is a vector cross product which turns the electron to the side according to the right hand rule.

[William Myres]

Dear Quantum Cube, Although closely related, they are not the same thing

[granpa]

the field of a magnetic dipole follows an inverse cube law
the field of a single electron follows an inverse square law
the field of a wire carrying a current follows an inverse first power law.

the 2 electrons are moving forward and would be turning to the side toward each other if they werent so strongly repelling each other electrically.

If you continue to argue rather than ask questions then I will place you on my ignore list.

[Geezer]

The question is, to be polite, highly ambiguous.

Perhaps William would be good enough to define precisely what he meant by "stronger"?

[yor_on]

Yep.

[QuantumClue]

Dear Quantum Cube, Although closely related, they are not the same thing

My name is quantum clue.

Not quantum cube

[Geezer]

Dear Quantum Cube, Although closely related, they are not the same thing

My name is quantum clue.

Not quantum cube

Now now, QC! Don't get yourself all sixsided about this.