How Do Magnets Work
A Magnet is any thing that has a magnetic field.
But What is a Magnetic Field
Magnetic force is one of four fundamental forces in the world. (In case you were wondering, gravity, strong atomic forces, and weak atomic forces are the other three). And magnetic fields are the forces of electrical currents and magnetic materials acting in a certain manner. Each magnet has opposing magnetic fields. These fields are polar, meaning that they have two different ends which repel each other. We call these ends North and South. (And yes, the directions North and South do relate to the Earth’s magnetic force). From the north pole is where magnetic force originates from and it travels until it terminates in the south pole. Because of the shape of the globe, these magnetic forces are closer together the closer they are to the poles and further apart as they travel towards the equator. These magnetic fields are always present, even if there isn’t a magnet to tell you so. [Fun Fact: The magnetic poles, (north and south), reverse every couple of thousand years, and we are due for a flip any time!]
Common Applications for Magnets
As you can see, magnets are surprisingly complex. But for all their complexity, what else can magnets be used for other than sticking your homework onto the fridge? Well, for one thing, magnets are part of what make your television work. Normally, the electrons which light up the screen are want to travel in a straight line, but powerful electromanets are used to disperse these electrons which then hit the screen and help it light up.
Fun Experiment With Magnets
So while some objects are “permanent magnets,” meaning that they will always be magnetized and create their own magnetic field, other objects are not permanent magnets and you can actually magnetize them with another magnet. Here is an easy experiment to demonstrate this.
What you’ll need:
- A permanent magnet. Most fridge magnets are permanent magnets. Basically, you’re looking for a dense black magnetic object, usually they are circular.
- A paper clip.
After you locate the two necessary items, begin to rub the permanent magnet onto the paper clip. You’ll probably have to do this for awhile. After about 5 minutes of rubbing, you’ll be able to use the paper clip as a magnet. So go ahead, stick it to the fridge!
Magnets are really cool and you would be surprised how important they are in every day life. As you become more advanced in your scientific training, you’ll find out that magnetic force is a fundamental backbone of physics and the universe as we know it.