Why are magnetohydrodynamics studied in astrophysics?

1 Answer
Sep 5, 2016

Every star has a moving core. This core is charged. Movement of charge is current. Current creates magnetic field. Magnetic field in a fluid is Magnetohydrodynamics.

Explanation:

Magnetohydrodynamics is the physical study of the interplay between fluid motion, and Electromagnetism.

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Fluid motion is described by the Navier-Stokes equations. Magnetic field changes inside a conducting fluid, induce currents which drive plus and minus charges in such a way as to cancel the electric field. This also creates a magnetic field which influences back the original field.

Magnetic field lines are frozen in the fluid and advected. This makes the study of fluid motion of electrically charged fluid a complex problem in which both fluid and electromagnetic field equations have to be solved together.