Unraveling the Mystery of Magnetic Attraction

[zoner7]

Alright. I don't understand the fundamental quantum basis behind the attraction of two magnets. My book notes that magnets manifest themselves when a material such as iron has unpaired electrons in orbitals that spin in the same direction. If an electron is paired, the electrons will spin in opposite directions and their fields will cancel out. That makes sense. But then it notes that two magnets that have unpaired electrons spinning in the same direction will attract one another. Why...?

Thank you

 

[Delphi51]

I don't know any Quantum, but isn't the explanation just that the magnets are magnets because they have electrons whose B doesn't cancel out? "Spinning in the same direction" means their fields will add, making a magnet.

 

[nlightner]

for your question and interest in the topic of magnetic attraction. I can understand your confusion about the underlying quantum principles behind this phenomenon. Let me try to explain it in a simple manner.

Firstly, it is important to understand that at the atomic level, all matter is made up of tiny particles called atoms. These atoms have negatively charged particles called electrons, which are constantly moving and spinning around the nucleus. When these electrons spin, they create a magnetic field, which is the source of a magnet's attraction.

Now, when two magnets are brought close to each other, their magnetic fields interact with each other. This interaction is due to the alignment of the electrons in the atoms of the magnets. As you correctly noted, if an electron is paired with another electron, their magnetic fields will cancel out and there will be no attraction between the two magnets.

However, when there are unpaired electrons in the atoms of a material, their magnetic fields do not cancel out and instead add up to create a stronger magnetic field. This is why materials such as iron, which have unpaired electrons, can be magnetized and exhibit magnetic properties.

Now, when two magnets with unpaired electrons are brought close to each other, their magnetic fields align and reinforce each other, resulting in an attractive force between them. This is due to the principle of like poles attracting and opposite poles repelling, as seen in the alignment of the electrons' spin directions.

I hope this explanation helps you understand the basis of magnetic attraction better. However, it is important to note that there is still ongoing research and exploration into the quantum mechanics of magnetism, and there may be more complex factors at play that we have yet to fully understand. Thank you for your interest in this fascinating topic.