Magnets are mysterious objects that attract and repel other magnets with an astonishing strength, defying our conventional understanding of attraction and distance. In this beginner-friendly guide, we will dive into the workings of these intriguing physical phenomena to understand what happens between magnets when they come close to each other.
Understanding Electromagnetism
Magnets are related to a force field known as an electromagnetic field. This invisible field is created and influenced by the movement of electric charges around them, such as within atoms and molecules. Every material has its electrons moving about in specific ways, producing various intensities and patterns of this electromagnetic field. Materials can be divided into two categories: magnetic materials and non-magnetic materials.
Magnetic materials possess domains, which are regions within the substance with ordered arrangements of their atoms’ spinning electrons. A magnet is essentially an accumulation of these domains lined up in the same direction.
Magnetic Poles
Magnetic forces exhibit two opposite ends that we call magnetic poles. These poles, denoted as north and south, have equal strengths but oppose each other when they come close to one another. When these magnetic poles are separated, an invisible line of force between them known as a magnetizing field emerges, exhibiting the directional pull of the opposing poles.
When a magnet is cut into two, we acquire two new magnets, each with its pair of poles. This fundamental property is called the “division law” in magnetism. It shows that you can’t isolate just one magnetic pole; rather, you need to maintain a couple of them.
Magnetic Interaction between Magnets
When we bring two magnets close to each other, their respective magnetic poles attempt to align and reach an equilibrium state, either repelling or attracting one another. Like poles push away from each other while opposite poles pull toward each other due to the electromagnetic force acting between them. The strength of this interaction is determined by two factors: (1) The closeness of the magnets in terms of distance and (2) The total magnetic strength, also known as magnetization, that each magnet possesses.
When we have a more potent magnet near another, we can think of it as being stronger than its partner or trying to control the behavior of the second magnet through influence over its internal domains. This leads us to our next topic.
Magnetic Forces in Action: Attraction and Repulsion
In real-world situations, magnets don’t always stick or adhere together but often come into contact briefly before separating due to their respective magnetization forces. When we push two magnets that have opposite poles facing one another closer, the magnification force will strengthen until it becomes challenging to move them any further. The two magnets have reached a position of equilibrium known as “contact” or “stable,” where an invisible thread or magnetic field keeps them tightly held together despite any external attempts to separate them.
On the other hand, if we place two magnets with similar poles facing each other closely, the force that opposes the approach between both poles will increase as they move nearer until it becomes challenging to bring them closer. In this scenario, they’ll eventually “repel,” pushing away from one another when brought in close proximity.
Demagnetization
Magnetic forces are not permanent and can be influenced by certain conditions or substances around magnets. For instance, an increase in temperature for specific materials can weaken the strength of their magnetic properties, a phenomenon called thermal demagnetization. In addition, exposing some magnets to intense external magnetic fields could result in a shift in the orientation of internal domains, effectively negating the original magnetic field. This effect is known as “magnetic demagnetization.”
Conclusion
In summary, magnets generate magnetic forces through the existence and motion of electrons within their composition. When placed close to one another, these forces can either attract or repel depending on the polarity, with a greater degree of strength dictated by closeness and magnetization. It’s essential to consider that various factors could alter the potency of these magnetic interactions, leading to temporary or permanent loss of magnetism. By understanding these mechanisms at play between magnets, we can explore the fascinating world of magnetism in its entirety