On a quantum level, what occurs inside iron and steel when it is exposed to a electric/magnetic field so that it's properties change? Does the metal become polarized? Why does this not happen to all kinds of matter and why only metals?
2006-08-23 07:36:04 · 2 answers · asked by hyperhealer3 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
Okay, Electrons line up to cause attraction/repulsion... but why does this only occur in metals? All matter has electrons and you don't see organic/hydrocarbon materials influenced by magnetism... there has to be some sort of quantum explanation to this.
2006-08-23 10:33:30 · update #1
the electrons orbiting around the nucleus have to be aligned. There is something called the "spin vector".
No one really knows what causes electro magnetisim nor do we know what the other forces are: gravity, strong nuclear force and the weak nuclear force.
The recent mathematical discoveries show that there are about 11 dimensions including our 4. Some think that these forces come into our 4 from other dimensions. or that the forces are spread through the other dimensions as well.
We just don't know. See: "unified field theory"
2006-08-23 07:44:35 · answer #1 · answered by a1tommyL 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magnetism is a force that acts at a distance and is caused by a magnetic field. This force strongly attracts ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel and cobalt. In magnets, the magnetic force strongly attracts an opposite pole of another magnet and repels a like pole. The magnetic field is both similar and different than an electric field.
2006-08-23 16:20:34 · answer #2 · answered by PeHLi KiRaN 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋