Reply to comments on 'Electromagnetic force on a moving dipole'

Abstract

We show that the expression for the force on a moving point-like dipole we derived in Kholmetskii et al (2011 Eur. J. Phys. 32 873) is correct and indicate an error in the criticism by Vekstein. We also show that with the inclusion of a 'hidden' momentum contribution, our expression has the general character and can be reduced to the expressions by Hnizdo or by Vekstein in the approximations they adopted. Concurrently, we recognize that the mathematical side of the paper by Vekstein (1997 Eur. J. Phys. 18 113) is correct.