Magnetism

In physics, magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. Some well known materials that exhibit easily detectable magnetic properties are iron, some steels, and the mineral lodestone; however, all materials are influenced to one degree or another by the presence of a magnetic field, although in most cases the influence is too small to detect without special equipment.

Related Topics:
Physics - Materials - Force - Iron - Steel - Mineral - Lodestone - Magnetic field

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Magnetic forces are fundamental forces that arise due to the movement of electrical charge. Maxwell's equations describe the origin and behavior of the fields that govern these forces (see also the Biot-Savart law). Thus, magnetism is seen whenever electrically charged particles are in motion. This can arise either from movement of electrons in an electric current, resulting in "electromagnetism", or from the quantum-mechanical orbital motion (there is no orbital motion of electrons around the nucleus like planets around the sun, but there is an "effective electron velocity") and spin of electrons, resulting in what are known as "permanent magnets".

Related Topics:
Forces - Maxwell's equations - Biot-Savart law - Charged particles - Motion - Electrons - Electric current - Orbital motion - Orbital motion - Nucleus - Spin

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