If two magnets that have never touched are placed near each other and move together, where did the potential..

Question

energy come from? To give a non magnetic example, if I lift an object away from the Earth, I have stored up potential energy which I can release by letting it fall. In that case, the energy released by the falling object was originally provided by me when I lifted it. Now if I take two magnets, from two different sources (ie. I never pulled them apart) and lay them close enough together on a flat surface, when they get close enough they will of course move towards each other. So my question is, the where did that potential energy (which becomes kinetic energy as they move together) come from?

DM, I understand that magnetic force causes them to draw together, but it can't create energy out of nothing. Where did the POTENTIAL energy come from?

Thanks for answering Dan, but that's not exactly what I'm looking for. I understand what potential energy is. In order to have potential energy, energy must FIRST be put into the system. If these two magnets have never touched, and therefore have never been pulled apart, when they move towards each other and release energy, where did that energy originally come from?

Answer 1

Simple answer is by the energy used to create the magnetic fields of the two magnets.

Answer 2

Even scientists have trouble answering that. The truth is that it has never been satisfactorily answered. The same goes if you stick a magnet say on o metal post. It fights gravity without any noticeable energy expenditure. The sources of magnetism and gravity is still a mystery.

Answer 3

i might say Capricorn and maximum cancers. Capricorns have a very complicated shell. human beings think of that Capricorns do not desire anybody as long as they are financially shield and function some trusted pals. (by potential of a few, i mean like, a million-3). yet somewhat, Capricorns can get very emotional and additionally desire emotional protection. maximum cancers's are very clingy and supportive so by potential of that, Capricorn will experience very enjoyed by potential of maximum cancers's clinginess, whether maximum will think of this is totally demanding. And if Capricorn ever gets aggravated, they'd not dare to get aggressive with maximum cancers. they're going to be conscious of how gentle they are. Cancers may help Capricorn by potential of listening and worrying approximately their maximum inner suggestions and thoughts. Capricorn can coach maximum cancers a element or 2 approximately why they should not be too lazy. they'll learn from one yet another. Capricorn will discover ways to soften up, maximum cancers will discover ways to make stronger up... and alter into much less lazy whilst they are secure in Capricorn's busy daily life, of direction.

Answer 4

The first time you do the experiment, it was just there all along ..... just as a rock that has always been on the top of a mountain has always had some gravitational PE. I suppose you could say it came from the Big Bang.

The second time you do the experiment, some of the Work you did in separating the stuck-together magnets was stored up as PE.

Answer 5

Potential energy is energy which results from position or configuration. An object may have the capacity for doing work as a result of its position in a gravitational field (gravitational potential energy), an electric field (electric potential energy), or a magnetic field (magnetic potential energy). It may have elastic potential energy as a result of a stretched spring or other elastic deformation.

Answer 6

Magnetic force.