more about magnetic
2006-11-19 10:46:35 · 9 answers · asked by Annie andersaon 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
Hey Annie,
We still do not know how to explain the power of a magnet. Sure, we can say the force field of a magnet does this or that, but we do not know how. We can make magnets, we observe that the process works. But what is it, physicists cannot explain that force. That is magic, and the ancient people knew it.
They thought any science was magic, so, something that could not be explained had no strings attached, but exerted forces had to be magic.
Even Wikipedia says the Einstein said a 'magnetic field can be caused', but that does not explain what it is.
2006-11-19 10:55:17 · answer #1 · answered by BuyTheSeaProperty 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Largely because the magnetic forces were unknown. Magnets could make pieces of metal move, either towards each other or apart from each other, they could make pieces of metal cling to each other --they appeared to have supernatural powers. It's the same reaction that holograms engendered when they were first demonstrated. People today are more sophisticated, and don't believe in magic to the extent that the ancients did, but in those days, almost anything that didn't have an easy answer was regarded as magical. And magicians, of course, made full use of that fact.
2006-11-19 19:16:31 · answer #2 · answered by old lady 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magnetism is hard to explain even today! Magnets can occur naturally in nature (lodestones) and if you step back a minute and think about it, wouldn't it be strange if there was some stone that kept snapping back at your iron sword or something?
The ancient Greeks also thought amber had magical properties because it is electrostatic - if you rub it, it's easy to get static electricity off it. We understand that now, too, but if you don't, isn't it just really nifty and strange?
2006-11-19 18:49:41 · answer #3 · answered by Cobalt 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Whenever something is discovered or invented people need time to absorb the new information and understand how it works. If you had never seen a magnet you would think there was something magical/mystical about it.
2006-11-19 18:55:31 · answer #4 · answered by Alyss K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Magic was a way for the ancients to explain things for which they did not have an explanation or understanding.
2006-11-19 18:58:56 · answer #5 · answered by MUD 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Maybe it links with gravity?? That they didnt know about gravity and how elements push and pull together? I am just guessing
2006-11-19 18:50:43 · answer #6 · answered by bikbokkop 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
It was something new and unknown in "ancident" times.
2006-11-19 18:49:02 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋
They didn't have glue.
2006-11-19 18:48:25 · answer #8 · answered by LaModeMcFLY 3 · 0⤊ 2⤋
perhaps they helped with spelling
ANCIDENT??????
2006-11-19 18:52:08 · answer #9 · answered by Who cares 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋