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I know an electric field can exist without a magnetic field as in the case where you have a stationary point charge.

But, magnetic fields are created by moving charges so wouldn't you always need an electric field to have a magnetic field? Even in the case of permanent magnets, from what I know, it's the aligned moving electrons in the atoms of the material which cause the magnetic properties so doesn't that mean there's always an electric field in order to have a magnetic field?

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Final answer:

While electric fields can exist without magnetic fields, magnetic fields imply the presence of moving charges or changing electric fields. Moving electric fields produce magnetic fields, and vice versa, especially when relative motion is involved, like in the case of motional emf.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is indeed true that while an electric field can exist independently from a magnetic field, as with a stationary point charge, the existence of a magnetic field typically implies the presence of moving charges. In physics, magnetism is inextricably linked to the motion of charges; this is evident from the fact that magnetic fields are generated by moving charges or by changing electric fields. The connection between electric and magnetic fields is a cornerstone of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell's equations.

For example, the electrons in atoms are in motion and possess an intrinsic angular momentum (spin), which contributes to the magnetic properties of materials. These moving charges produce both electric and magnetic fields. However, an electric field in a static situation does not always accompany a magnetic field. Permanent magnets are an example where magnetic fields exist in the absence of an externally applied electric field or moving charges.

Furthermore, phenomena like motional emf illustrate the interplay between electric and magnetic fields through relative motion. This occurs when the motion of a magnetic field relative to a conductor induces an electromotive force, which in turn generates an electric field. Hence, the key idea is that relative motion between magnetic fields, electric fields, and conductors is the critical factor in the generation of one field by another.

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