tiny-tim said:hi darkchild!
Yes, that's basically correct, but I don't think it has anything to do with currents of electrons.
All materials are slightly diamagnetic, and all materials (I think) with unpaired electrons are paramagnetic.
Diamagnetism comes from the dipoles of paired electrons (paired either between two atoms or within one atom … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electron_pair" ), and is weakly present in all materials. Diamagnetic materials are repelled by magnetic fields, and lines of magnetic flux curve away from them.
From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamagnetism" …
Diamagnetism is a very general phenomenon, because all paired electrons, including the electrons of an atom, will always make a weak contribution to the material's response. However, for materials that show some other form of magnetism (such as ferromagnetism or paramagnetism), the diamagnetism is completely overpowered. Substances that mostly display diamagnetic behaviour are termed diamagnetic materials, or diamagnets. Materials that are said to be diamagnetic are those that are usually considered by non-physicists to be "non-magnetic", and include water, wood, most organic compounds such as petroleum and some plastics, and many metals including copper, particularly the heavy ones with many core electrons, such as mercury, gold and bismuth.
… the term "diamagnetism" was coined by Michael Faraday in September 1845, when he realized that all materials in nature possessed some form of diamagnetic response to an applied magnetic field.
Paramagnetism comes from the dipoles of unpaired electrons, and paramagnetic materials are attracted by magnetic fields … see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paramagnetism" .
netheril96 said:
darkchild said:
Magnetism is a phenomenon that occurs when certain materials have the ability to attract or repel other materials. It is caused by the movement of electrically charged particles, such as electrons, within the material. This movement creates a magnetic field, which is responsible for the attractive or repulsive force.
No, not all matter is magnetic. Only certain materials, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt, have the ability to become magnetized and exhibit magnetic properties. Other materials, such as wood, plastic, and glass, are not magnetic and cannot be magnetized.
Yes, magnets can lose their magnetic properties over time due to factors such as exposure to high temperatures, strong magnetic fields, or physical damage. This process is known as demagnetization. However, some materials, such as permanent magnets, are more resistant to demagnetization.
Magnetism plays a crucial role in our daily lives. It is used in various technologies, such as motors, generators, and speakers. It is also used in medical imaging devices, credit and debit cards, and even in compasses for navigation. Without magnetism, many of these technologies would not be possible.
Yes, magnetism can be explained by science. It is a well-understood phenomenon that has been studied for centuries. Scientists have developed theories and models to explain how magnetism works at the atomic and molecular level. The principles of magnetism are also used in various fields of science, such as physics, chemistry, and materials science.