Do magnets attract objects in a straight line?

[Vdtta]

Do magnets attract objects in a straight line?

a.) magnet dipole - magnet dipole
b.) magnet dipole - electric charge
c.) magnet dipole - metal molecule
d.) magnet dipole - charged metal molecule


Will any or all of these combination result in a second particle move in a straight line or some kind of a spiral, having in mind Lorentz force (magnetic force of a moving charge) act perpendicular to both velocity and magnetic field vectors?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lorentz_force

 

[eljose79]

I can confirm that magnets do indeed attract objects in a straight line, regardless of the type of particle or object they are attracting. This is known as the Lorentz force, which is the magnetic force that acts on a moving charge. It is perpendicular to both the velocity and magnetic field vectors, which means that the resulting movement of the object will be in a straight line.

In terms of the specific combinations mentioned in the forum post, all of them will result in the second particle moving in a straight line, as long as the magnetic force is the dominant force acting on the particle. This means that the particle must be attracted to the magnet more strongly than any other forces, such as gravitational or electric forces.

It is also worth noting that the strength of the magnetic force will depend on the strength of the magnetic field and the charge and velocity of the particle. In some cases, the resulting movement may appear to be a spiral due to the complex interactions between different forces, but ultimately the overall movement will still be in a straight line.

I hope this helps to clarify any confusion about the behavior of magnets and the Lorentz force. As always, it is important to approach scientific topics with an open mind and continue to ask questions and seek out reliable sources for information.

 

[astrokreng]

The answer to this question is not a simple yes or no. Magnets do have the ability to attract objects in a straight line, but it also depends on the specific properties and interactions between the magnet and the object being attracted. In the four combinations listed, the most likely scenario for a straight line attraction would be a magnet dipole attracting a metal molecule. This is because the magnetic force of a magnet acts perpendicular to the velocity and magnetic field vectors, resulting in a straight line motion for the metal molecule. However, in the other combinations, such as a magnet dipole attracting an electric charge or a charged metal molecule, the Lorentz force may cause the object to move in a spiral or curved path rather than a straight line. This is because the electric charge or charged metal molecule will experience a force in a direction that is not perpendicular to its motion, causing it to deviate from a straight line path. Therefore, while magnets do have the ability to attract objects in a straight line, the specific properties and interactions between the magnet and the object being attracted can also affect the resulting motion.