Magnetism - What is it?

[RyanJ]

Hi everyone!

 

I've wondered about this for a long time... what is megnetism? I know its when all the atoms align up and form a field (Either that or they just simplified it to make it easier to understand in lower school science.).

 

I also have another question: Why do only certain types of compounds and elements show it - is it caused by something to do with the nucleus?

 

Also, how would this fit in with string theory, is there a particular particle assosicated with the transmission of a mangetic filed?

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[LazerFazer]

Well, to answer your last question, I do believe that ElectroMagnetism is one force, and thus the force carrier is the Photon, which string theory does accomodate for.

 

If I'm wrong, feel free to correct me, as I'm not entirely sure on this.

 

Cheers,

LF

[swansont]

It's what happens to the electric field when you make it undergo a Lorentz transformation. i.e. somewhere you have moving charges, or something that looks like moving charges.

 

Atoms with unpaired electrons will tend to have magnetic properties. If you can get the material to orient itself, like in a solid, so that the electron spins' magnetic moments can add together.

[5614]

Magnetism is a fundemental force which can occur between 2 objects.

 

The force carrier or exchange particle for magnetism is the photon.

 

Magnetism is caused by the movement of electric charges. This can be in the form of an electric current (ie. an electromagnet) or when the electrons in an atom are in specific arrangement which produces a magnetic field.

 

Normally the electrons are arranged in a way that all the magnetic moments cancel each other out (ie. there is no overal magnetic field) however in cases where there are partially filled shells there is an overall or net magnetic moment, the strength of the magnetic field also depends on the number of unpaired electrons.

 

Only some compounds show magnetism because of the electron configuration.

 

I don't know how this ties into string theory.

 

[edit] wow, I'd like to say that I am one of the 3 who posted all at the same time saying the same thing (well similar anyway)... woo!

[RyanJ]

3 posts withing 1 minute of each other - great!

 

So a magnetic field is basically an electric filed? Thats interesting and it explains why all electric fields seem to have a magnetic property... something I was going to ask about later

 

@5614, swansont: Does that mean that ever element has a magnetic filed but the momets are cancelled out bu the electrons making the net overall magetic filed zero in most cases?

 

Interesting - thanks all!

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones

[5614]

Each electron has it's own magnetic field yes, however electrons cancel each other out.

 

Think about it, in an electric current the magnetic field is caused by the electrons moving... one sec, electrons are always moving orbiting a nucleus, that's where they get their own magnetic field from. However there is another much more significant reason for each electron's own magnetic field and this is related to it's quantum mechanicals property called spin.

 

It is the spin which you really need to consider and it is the spin that often cancels itself out.

[RyanJ]

Each electron has it's own magnetic field yes' date=' however electrons cancel each other out.

 

Think about it, in an electric current the magnetic field is caused by the electrons moving... one sec, electrons are always moving orbiting a nucleus, that's where they get their own magnetic field from. However there is another much more significant reason for each electron's own magnetic field and this is related to it's quantum mechanicals property called spin.

 

It is the spin which you really need to consider and it is the spin that often cancels itself out.[/quote']

 

Right, that makes sence! Thanks!

 

Cheers,

 

Ryan Jones