The crucial difference between the electric field and the magnetic field is the absence of magnetic monopoles. In electrostatics a positive charge can exist on its own, separate from a negative one; in magnetism this never happens.

Magnetic monopoles do not exist

In nature isolated magnetic charges are never found. Every magnet always has two poles, North (N) and South (S): if you split a magnet in half you do not get “half N” and “half S” separately, but two smaller magnets, each with its own N and S.

Splitting a magnet does not separate the poles: it duplicates them. However finely you keep cutting, you always get complete dipoles, never a single pole.

Splitting a magnet gives two complete magnets, not two isolated monopoles.

The mathematical consequence is clear-cut: the flux of B\vec{B} through any closed surface is always zero. Every line that enters a volume also leaves it, because there are no magnetic “sources” inside for them to terminate on.

Zero magnetic flux

ΦB(closed surface)=0\ev{\Phi_B(\text{closed surface}) = 0}

This is the magnetic analogue of Gauss’s theorem, but with the enclosed charge always zero. This law will become one of Maxwell’s four equations.

Topics: Magnetismo Concepts: Campo magnetico · Flusso magnetico

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