What is the difference between gravity and magnetism?

Answer 1

Gravity is the attractive "force" between ALL matter. Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle in the universe, whether it is has electrical charge or not. Gravity has no poles...the force is always attractive, even between matter and anti-matter, and from any direction.

Magnetism is nothing more than electricaly charged particles in motion. Magnetism only affects "charged" matter such as electrons and protons. Magnets always have 2 opposite poles. Opposite poles attract, like poles repel. Charged particles moving through a magnetic field will curve one way if they have a positive charge, and the other way if the have a negative charge.

Also, some metals are known to "retain" a magnetic field in them for long periods of time. They are iron, cobalt, nickel, and gadolinium (at very very low temperatures). This ability is called retentivity.

Answer 2

Is Gravity Magnetism

Answer 3

Let's consider: gravity fields, electrical fields and magnetic fields.

Both gravity, electrostaticity and magnetism are field-phenomena. They create fields of forces. Because of these fields of forces, potential energy can be 'stored' by lifting up an object, removing two magnets or separating a positive from a negative charge.

But the nature of magnetism is very different from gravity. It is a little closer to the nature of electricity. Magnetism is connected with electric phenomena as described by the laws of Maxwell. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell's_equations

Gravity is less abstract to understand: it is always induced by mass. Mass is always needed to induce a field of gravity forces. You cannot induce a gravitational field without having a physical object.

To induce a magnetic field, you need either:

- moving electrical charges
- and more largely: an electric field that changes in time
this can also happen without any mass being there! These difficult maxwell laws are at the base of what is electro-magnetic radiation, like light. It can (re)produce itself in vacuum.

If you think about the concept of magnetic field-lines (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field), they are always closed. Always closed, remember it very good.

Gravity fieldlines are, like electrical field lines, radial.

This has one consequence: you cannot separate the north- and southpole of a magnet. You can cut a magnet in the middle, but you will create two new magnets, both with a north and a south pole.

With gravitational forces, there is not such a thing. Also with electrical forces, you can separate f.e. a positive and a negative charge. The electrical field lines (and also the law of Coulomb) for an isolated charge is quite identical to what is gravity.

One last remark: in general, the concept of magnetism and also electrostatic forces and gravity are very well understood in a mathematical modeling way. (like you can 'understand' the earth and represent it as a map, or a globe, and make predictions on how much time difference there is between Brussels and Detroit). But this doesn't mean that clear explanations exist about the fundamental nature of these forces. At least non-specialists also don't understand the real physical background of gravity. But if you do an experiment (jump out of the window); you can very well detect it's existence.

Answer 4

It's different because gravity is always attractive and has no poles. Magnets can either attract or repel and always has 2 poles. Gravity is attractive to ALL matter. Magnets only has electrical charged portions in motion. Metals that can retain a magnetic field for a long time are iron, cobalt, nickel, and gadolinium.

Answer 5

gravity is the for of attraction between any 2 bodies which have mass . generally term gravity is associated with the heavenly massive bodies like stars and planets. magnetism is the special property ,not possessed by all the bodies , which is due to the spin moment created by electrons in atoms .

Answer 6

Gravity is the earths pull on anything with wieght to its centre. Magnetism only works with certain metals. Earth has a gravitational pull on our moon, and the sun keeps the earth in its gravitational force.

Answer 7

The force of magnetism is stronger than gravity in close distances, and weaker than gravity in further distances.

Answer 8

Gravity is a force that keep us on the ground and magnetism is a forace that atracts all iron related metals.

Answer 9

Magnetism only works with Ferrous metals..
Gravity works on everything with mass..

Answer 10

gravity is a pull between two massive bodies, however magnitism is a metalic property of attraction. magnitism can be affected, and deffected. and also can be very strong with small bodies. however to have a strong gravitational pull the bodies must be enormous, such as the earth.