Magnetize a steel wire by rubbing against your head. (BS or ~BS)

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SUMMARY

The forum discussion centers on the feasibility of magnetizing a steel wire by rubbing it against human hair, as demonstrated in the "Man vs. Wild" documentary. The user questions the scientific validity of this method, noting that while magnetizing wire through friction is possible, the claim that human hair can impart sufficient magnetism lacks empirical support. The discussion highlights the principles of bio-magnetism and static electricity, suggesting that while static charge may occur, it is unlikely to create a significant magnetic field capable of magnetizing the wire effectively.

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This discussion is beneficial for physics enthusiasts, educators, survivalists, and anyone interested in the scientific principles behind magnetism and static electricity.

uart
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Who can help me call BS on the physics of something I just watched on TV. Ok let me clarify that statement, of course 90% + of what's on TV is BS but this particular show is a documentary style that so far seemed reasonably well grounded in fact (though at times somewhat contrived).

The show is called "man versus wild" and it's a survival style documentary where this ex-commando style guy gets dropped by helicopter into some remote wilderness and demonstrates various survival skills as he makes his way back to civilization, usually over several days.

In this weeks episode he was hiking out of some remote canyon in Mexico and at one point he camped overnight in a cave that had signs of previously being used as a campsite by native Indians (and possibly others). He searched around for anything useful for survival and found a small piece of steel wire. Ok that part was probably contrived but I don't care about that. What does concern me is what he did next. He wanted to make a simple compass by magnetizing the wire and placing it on a floating leaf in a very still puddle of water. Ok no problems with that I've done it many times before myself and it works as expected. But get this part, he magnetized the wire by rubbing it vigorously against the hair on the side of his head.

I know of no physical explanation of how this would work? Though it's not my area I've heard there is some bio-magnetism in the human body, but surely not enough to magnetize a wire by rubbing it on the side of your head. Can anyone explain this one or is it just plain BS.
 
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I'm not sure, but the movement of the wire across the hair should strip electrons off the hair, giving the wire a static charge. This charge may induce a magnetic field. Although I believe only moving electric fields generate magnetic fields. In this case the charging (Charge moving into the wire) may have generated enough of a magnetic field to slightly magnetize the wire.
 
Did he try using the wire as a compass before rubbing it through his hair? Many metal objects become slightly magnetized just sitting around.
 

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