Francis X. Canning and Steven Knudsen

Institute for Scientific Research, Inc., Fairmont, West Virginia

On Whether Angular Momentum in Electric and

Magnetic Fields Radiates to Infinity

NASA/CR—2006-214124

March 2006
NASA STI Program . . . in Profile

Since its founding, NASA has been dedicated to the

advancement of aeronautics and space science. The

NASA Scientific and Technical Information (STI)

program plays a key part in helping NASA maintain

this important role.

The NASA STI Program operates under the auspices

of the Agency Chief Information Officer. It collects,

organizes, provides for archiving, and disseminates

NASA’s STI. The NASA STI program provides access

to the NASA Aeronautics and Space Database and its

public interface, the NASA Technical Reports Server,

thus providing one of the largest collections of

aeronautical and space science STI in the world.

Results are published in both non-NASA channels and

by NASA in the NASA STI Report Series, which

includes the following report types:

• TECHNICAL PUBLICATION. Reports of

completed research or a major significant phase

of research that present the results of NASA

programs and include extensive data or theoretical

analysis. Includes compilations of significant

scientific and technical data and information

deemed to be of continuing reference value.

NASA counterpart of peer-reviewed formal

professional papers but has less stringent

limitations on manuscript length and extent of

graphic presentations.

• TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM. Scientific

and technical findings that are preliminary or

of specialized interest, e.g., quick release

reports, working papers, and bibliographies that

contain minimal annotation. Does not contain

extensive analysis.

• CONTRACTOR REPORT. Scientific and

technical findings by NASA-sponsored

contractors and grantees.

• CONFERENCE PUBLICATION. Collected

papers from scientific and technical

conferences, symposia, seminars, or other

meetings sponsored or cosponsored by NASA.

• SPECIAL PUBLICATION. Scientific,

technical, or historical information from

NASA programs, projects, and missions, often

concerned with subjects having substantial

public interest.

• TECHNICAL TRANSLATION. Englishlanguage translations of foreign scientific and

technical material pertinent to NASA’s mission.

Specialized services also include creating custom

thesauri, building customized databases, organizing

and publishing research results.

For more information about the NASA STI

program, see the following:

• Access the NASA STI program home page at

http://www.sti.nasa.gov

• E-mail your question via the Internet to

help@sti.nasa.gov

• Fax your question to the NASA STI Help Desk

at 301–621–0134

• Telephone the NASA STI Help Desk at

301–621–0390

• Write to:

 NASA STI Help Desk

 NASA Center for AeroSpace Information

 7121 Standard Drive

 Hanover, MD 21076–1320
NASA/CR—2006-214124

March 2006

National Aeronautics and

Space Administration

Glenn Research Center

Cleveland, Ohio 44135

Prepared under Contract NAS3–00124

Francis X. Canning and Steven Knudsen

Institute for Scientific Research, Inc., Fairmont, West Virginia

On Whether Angular Momentum in Electric and

Magnetic Fields Radiates to Infinity
Available from

NASA Center for Aerospace Information

7121 Standard Drive

Hanover, MD 21076–1320

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

Available electronically at http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov

Trade names and trademarks are used in this report for identification

only. Their usage does not constitute an official endorsement,

either expressed or implied, by the National Aeronautics and

Space Administration.

Level of Review: This material has been technically reviewed by NASA technical management.
NASA/CR—2006-214124 1

On Whether Angular Momentum in Electric and Magnetic 

Fields Radiates to Infinity 

Francis X. Canning and Steven Knudsen 

Institute for Scientific Research, Inc. 

Fairmont, West Virginia 26555 
NASA/CR—2006-214124 2
NASA/CR—2006-214124 3
NASA/CR—2006-214124 4
NASA/CR—2006-214124 5
NASA/CR—2006-214124 6
NASA/CR—2006-214124 7
NASA/CR—2006-214124 8
NASA/CR—2006-214124 9
NASA/CR—2006-214124 10
NASA/CR—2006-214124 11
NASA/CR—2006-214124 12
NASA/CR—2006-214124 13
NASA/CR—2006-214124 14
NASA/CR—2006-214124 15
NASA/CR—2006-214124 16
NASA/CR—2006-214124 17
NASA/CR—2006-214124 18
This publication is available from the NASA Center for AeroSpace Information, 301–621–0390.

REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE

2. REPORT DATE

19. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

 OF ABSTRACT

18. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

 OF THIS PAGE

Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources,

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson

Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and to the Office of Management and Budget, Paperwork Reduction Project (0704-0188), Washington, DC 20503.

NSN 7540-01-280-5500 Standard Form 298 (Rev. 2-89)

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39-18

298-102

Form Approved

OMB No. 0704-0188

12b. DISTRIBUTION CODE

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

 REPORT NUMBER

5. FUNDING NUMBERS

3. REPORT TYPE AND DATES COVERED

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

6. AUTHOR(S)

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

11. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

12a. DISTRIBUTION/AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

13. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 words)

14. SUBJECT TERMS

17. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION

 OF REPORT

16. PRICE CODE

15. NUMBER OF PAGES

20. LIMITATION OF ABSTRACT

Unclassified Unclassified

Final Contractor Report

Unclassified

1. AGENCY USE ONLY (Leave blank)

10. SPONSORING/MONITORING

 AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Washington, DC 20546–0001

Available electronically at http://gltrs.grc.nasa.gov

March 2006

NASA CR—2006-214124

E–15459

WBS–2262–949–10–01

NAS3–00124

24

On Whether Angular Momentum in Electric and Magnetic Fields Radiates to

Infinity

Francis X. Canning and Steven Knudsen

Physics

Unclassified -Unlimited

Subject Categories: 20 and 70

Institute for Scientific Research, Inc.

320 Adams Street

Fairmont, West Virginia 26555

The Feynman Disk experiment and a related thought experiment with a static magnetic field and capacitor are studied.

The mechanical torque integrated over time (angular impulse) is related to the angular momentum in the electric/

magnetic field. This is not called an electromagnetic field since quasi-static as well as electromagnetic effects are

included. The angular momentum in the electric/magnetic field is examined to determine its static and radiative

components. This comparison was then examined to see if it clarified the Abraham-Minkowski paradox.

Project manager, Marc G. Millis, Propellant Systems Branch, Glenn Research Center, organization code RTP,

216–977–7535.