Magnetic Field Mass

Thankyou for your explanations so far about magnetic v gravitational forces. At a very simplified level am I right in understanding that magnetic forces have mass and are therefore a part of the overall mass of an object and its gravitational force?
- H Waldon (age 50)
Australia, NSW

Yes, but that effect is very tiny. Let's say you have a lab magnet that fills 1000 cm³ of space with a very high field of 10⁵ G. That field has an energy of (roughly) 10¹² ergs. That corresponds to a mass of 10^-9 grams. So for most purposes we just forget about it.

Mike W.

(published on 08/04/2012)