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The '''magnetic constant''' ''&mu;''<sub>0</sub> (equal to the '''vacuum permeability''', also known as the ''permeability of free space'') is  a universal [[physical constant]], relating mechanical and electromagnetic units of measurement. In the [[International System of Units]] (SI), its value is ''exactly'' expressed by:  
The '''magnetic constant''' ''&mu;''<sub>0</sub> (also known as '''vacuum permeability''' or '''permeability of [[Free space (electromagnetism)|free space]]''') is  a universal [[physical constant]], an electromagnetic property of [[classical vacuum]], relating mechanical and electromagnetic units of measurement. In the [[International System of Units]] (SI), its value is ''exactly'' expressed by:  
:<math>\mu_0 = 4 \pi\ \times \ 10^{-7}\ </math> [[newton|N]]/[[ampere|A]]<sup>2</sup> = 4&pi;&times;10<sup>&minus;7</sup>&nbsp;[[Henry (inductance)|H]]/[[metre|m]], or approximately 1.2566&times;10<sup>&minus;6</sup>&nbsp;[[Henry (inductance)|H]]/[[metre|m]].<ref name="NIST">{{cite web |url=http://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/cuu/Value?mu0 |title=Magnetic constant |accessdate=2007-08-08 |work=2006 [[CODATA]] recommended values |publisher=[[NIST]] }}</ref>
<!-- :<math>\mu_0 = 4 \pi\ \times \ 10^{-7}\ </math> -->
:&mu;<sub>0</sub> = 4&pi; &times; 10<sup>&minus;7</sup>  [[newton|N]]/[[ampere|A]]<sup>2</sup> = 4&pi;&times;10<sup>&minus;7</sup>&nbsp;[[Henry (inductance)|henry]]/[[metre]] (H/m) , or approximately 1.2566&times;10<sup>&minus;6</sup>&nbsp;H/m.<ref name="NIST">{{cite web |url=http://physics.nist.gov/cgi-bin/cuu/Value?mu0 |title=Magnetic constant |accessdate=2007-08-08 |work=2006 [[CODATA]] recommended values |publisher=[[NIST]] }}</ref>


This value is a consequence of the definition of the [[ampere]] in terms of forces between wires.<ref name="NIST amp hist">{{cite web |url=http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/ampere.html |title=Unit of electric current (ampere)  |accessdate=2007-08-11 |work=Historical context of the SI  |publisher=[[NIST]] }}</ref>
This value is a consequence of the definition of the [[ampere]] in terms of forces between wires, see [[Ampere's_equation#Two straight, infinite, and parallel wires|Ampère's equation]].<ref name="NIST amp hist">{{cite web |url=http://physics.nist.gov/cuu/Units/ampere.html |title=Unit of electric current (ampere)  |accessdate=2007-08-11 |work=Historical context of the SI  |publisher=[[NIST]] }}</ref>
In vacuum, the magnetic constant is the ratio of the magnetic [[magnetic induction|'''B'''-field]] (for calculating [[Lorentz force]]) to the [[magnetic field|'''H'''-field]] (calculated from currents):
In vacuum, the magnetic constant is the ratio of the [[magnetic induction|magnetic '''B'''-field]] (entering the expression for the [[Lorentz force]]) to the [[magnetic field|magnetic '''H'''-field]]  
(the field inside a [[solenoid]]):
:<math>\mathbf{B} = \mu_0 \ \mathbf{H}.</math>
:<math>\mathbf{B} = \mu_0 \ \mathbf{H}.</math>


In SI units the magnetic constant ''μ''<sub>0</sub> is related to the [[electric constant]] ''ε''<sub>0</sub> and to the [[speed of light in vacuum]] by ''c'' ² ε<sub>0</sub> μ<sub>0</sub> = 1.
In SI units the magnetic constant ''μ''<sub>0</sub> is related to the [[electric constant]] ''ε''<sub>0</sub> and to the [[speed of light]] in vacuum by ''c'' ² ε<sub>0</sub> μ<sub>0</sub> = 1.
 
In [[Gaussian units]], the symbols ''μ''<sub>0</sub> and ''ε''<sub>0</sub> do not appear.<ref name=Wolf>
 
{{cite book |title=Relativistic quantum chemistry: the fundamental theory of molecular science |author=Markus Reiher, Alexander Wolf |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=tpsHi7F16dMC&pg=PA7 |pages=p. 7 |isbn=3527312927 |publisher=Wiley-VCH |year=2009}}
 
</ref> Also, in Gaussian units, the speed of light is a measured, not a defined quantity.


==Terminology==
==Terminology==
Historically, the constant μ<sub>0</sub> has had different names. A now rather obsolete term is "''magnetic permittivity of vacuum''". In the 1987 [[IUPAP]] Red book this constant was called ''permeability of vacuum''.<ref>{{citation|author=[[SUNAMCO Commission]]| chapter=Recommended values of the fundamental physical constants |  url=http://www-v2.sp.se/metrology/IUPAP_SUNAMCO/IUPAP%20SUNAMCO%20Commission_files/IUPAP_Red_book_1987/SUNAMCO%20Red%20book%201987/6_Recommended_fundamental_constants_iupap_sunamco_red_book_1987.pdf  |title=[http://www-v2.sp.se/metrology/IUPAP_SUNAMCO/IUPAP%20SUNAMCO%20Commission_files/IUPAP_Red_book_1987/SUNAMCO%20Red%20book%201987/index_red_book_iupap_sunamco_1987.htm Symbols, Units, Nomenclature and Fundamental Constants in Physics] |year=1987 | pages=p.54 }}; (the [[IUPAP]] "Red book").</ref>  
Historically, the constant μ<sub>0</sub> has had different names. A now rather obsolete term is "''magnetic permittivity of vacuum''". In the 1987 [[IUPAP]] Red book this constant was called ''permeability of vacuum''.<ref>{{citation|author=[[SUNAMCO Commission]]| chapter=Recommended values of the fundamental physical constants |  url=http://www-v2.sp.se/metrology/IUPAP_SUNAMCO/IUPAP%20SUNAMCO%20Commission_files/IUPAP_Red_book_1987/SUNAMCO%20Red%20book%201987/6_Recommended_fundamental_constants_iupap_sunamco_red_book_1987.pdf  |title=[http://www-v2.sp.se/metrology/IUPAP_SUNAMCO/IUPAP%20SUNAMCO%20Commission_files/IUPAP_Red_book_1987/SUNAMCO%20Red%20book%201987/index_red_book_iupap_sunamco_1987.htm Symbols, Units, Nomenclature and Fundamental Constants in Physics] |year=1987 | pages=p.54 }}; (the [[IUPAP]] "Red book").</ref>  
Currently the [[nomenclature]] in physics is ''magnetic constant''.<ref name="NIST"/><ref>{{cite web |author=[[National Physical Laboratory, UK]]|url=http://www.npl.co.uk/reference/fundamental_constants.pdf |title=Fundamental Physical Constants |year=1998 |pages=p. 2}}</ref>  
Currently the [[nomenclature]] in physics is ''magnetic constant''.<ref name="NIST"/><ref>{{cite web |author=[[National Physical Laboratory, UK]]|url=http://www.npl.co.uk/reference/fundamental_constants.pdf |title=Fundamental Physical Constants |year=1998 |pages=p. 2}}</ref>  
The vacuum [[permeability (electromagnetism)|permeability]] μ = μ<sub>r</sub>μ<sub>0</sub> is equal to μ<sub>0</sub>, i.e., for the vacuum μ<sub>r</sub> = 1.
The [[permeability (electromagnetism)|permeability]] μ &equiv; μ<sub>r</sub>&thinsp;μ<sub>0</sub> is equal to μ<sub>0</sub> for the vacuum, i.e., for the vacuum the ''relative permeability'' μ<sub>r</sub> = 1.


== Footnotes ==
== Footnotes ==
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The magnetic constant μ0 (also known as vacuum permeability or permeability of free space) is a universal physical constant, an electromagnetic property of classical vacuum, relating mechanical and electromagnetic units of measurement. In the International System of Units (SI), its value is exactly expressed by:

μ0 = 4π × 10−7 N/A2 = 4π×10−7 henry/metre (H/m) , or approximately 1.2566×10−6 H/m.[1]

This value is a consequence of the definition of the ampere in terms of forces between wires, see Ampère's equation.[2] In vacuum, the magnetic constant is the ratio of the magnetic B-field (entering the expression for the Lorentz force) to the magnetic H-field (the field inside a solenoid):

In SI units the magnetic constant μ0 is related to the electric constant ε0 and to the speed of light in vacuum by c ² ε0 μ0 = 1.

In Gaussian units, the symbols μ0 and ε0 do not appear.[3] Also, in Gaussian units, the speed of light is a measured, not a defined quantity.

Terminology

Historically, the constant μ0 has had different names. A now rather obsolete term is "magnetic permittivity of vacuum". In the 1987 IUPAP Red book this constant was called permeability of vacuum.[4] Currently the nomenclature in physics is magnetic constant.[1][5] The permeability μ ≡ μr μ0 is equal to μ0 for the vacuum, i.e., for the vacuum the relative permeability μr = 1.

Footnotes