36grit Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) Can anybody explain how magnet fields work? Why do opposites attact? and likes repel? Edited November 25, 2015 by 36grit
fiveworlds Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 We don't understand why positives and negatives attract and likes repel. Or why they exist. We do know that they appear to though. We can also make magnets now.
swansont Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 Presumably for reasons similar to why like charges repel and opposites attract. We don't know why that behavior is there, but observe that it's what happens. We have a model, involving exchange of virtual photons, that tells us how the EM interaction works, but it doesn't tell us why that it must be so.
studiot Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 (edited) Can anybody explain how magnet fields work? Why do opposites attact? and likes repel? Do you mean magnets or magnetic fields? Fields don't have a 'like' and 'unlike'. They are vectors and have a strength and a direction. So they add vectorially. Magnetic vectors in the same direction reinforce, those in the opposite direction weaken the total field where they interact. Magnets have poles that attract or repel, is this what you are really asking about? Edited November 25, 2015 by studiot
Strange Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 If anyone can, Feynman can. Or not ... http://www.sciencealert.com/watch-richard-feynman-on-why-he-can-t-tell-you-how-magnets-work
geordief Posted November 25, 2015 Posted November 25, 2015 They are great videos. A shame about the picture quality.
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