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magnetic metals question?
Only some materials such as iron and cobalt are magnetic. These materials can be made into magnets, while other metals cannot. Explain how a permanent magnet creates a magnetic field and how these metals can be made into magnets?
1 Answer
- Gary HLv 77 years ago
It is all about the electrons and, specifically, the "spin" of the electrons. When groups of atoms are "oriented" such that the "spins" are aligned, this forms a "magnetic domain". The more of these magnetic domains that are aligned, the stronger the magnetic field becomes. I use a lot "quotes" because, fundamentally, electrons are not normal objects that one could spin like a top. That said, all atoms of electrons which have "spin" but only certain atoms have electrons (or electron configurations) which can generate a permanent magnetic field.
It was, I believe, Albert Einstein who said: If you can't explain something to a 5 yr old, maybe you don't understand it very well. I think this applies to magnetism.
