1. Joined
    07 Dec '05
    Moves
    22048
    14 Feb '20 03:05
    Explain it as simply as possible.

    If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
    -Albert Einstein
  2. Standard memberbunnyknight
    bunny knight
    planet Earth
    Joined
    12 Dec '13
    Moves
    2917
    14 Feb '20 03:51
    @Metal-Brain
    What a coincidence. I was just wondering if anyone on earth really knows what a magnetic field is. It seems to be even stranger than gravity.
  3. Standard memberDeepThought
    Losing the Thread
    Quarantined World
    Joined
    27 Oct '04
    Moves
    87415
    14 Feb '20 05:14
    Magnets cause magnetism.
  4. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    14 Feb '20 05:38
    @Metal-Brain
    Two things. One, every atom has a magnetic field, tiny as it may be.
    If they are all jumbled up they add up to zilch.

    If you can get all those tiny magnets to line up then you have a useable external field made up by all those tiny ones acting in accord.

    The second one comes from moving electrical currents in a conductor.
    If you have an electrical current in a conductor, the current causes an external field which is what makes our civilization run, motors, generators, oscillators, frequency converters ALL run on manipulation of the magnetic field generated by electric current running in a conductor.

    Not sure how I can make it simpler than that. Anyone else willing to try, knock yourself out.
  5. Standard memberbunnyknight
    bunny knight
    planet Earth
    Joined
    12 Dec '13
    Moves
    2917
    14 Feb '20 06:25
    @sonhouse said
    @Metal-Brain
    Two things. One, every atom has a magnetic field, tiny as it may be.
    If they are all jumbled up they add up to zilch.

    If you can get all those tiny magnets to line up then you have a useable external field made up by all those tiny ones acting in accord.

    The second one comes from moving electrical currents in a conductor.
    If you have an electrical curre ...[text shortened]... or.

    Not sure how I can make it simpler than that. Anyone else willing to try, knock yourself out.
    Yes, that's all very obvious, but what is it? Is it a magic particle? Or a magic wave? Or a distortion of dark energy? Or a space warp? Or invisible rubber bands and springs?
  6. Joined
    06 Mar '12
    Moves
    642
    14 Feb '20 08:303 edits
    @metal-brain said


    If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
    -Albert Einstein
    Albert Einstein was wrong about that but still right about most other things.
    For example, it is probably impossible to explain the whole of general relativity including the meaning of all those MASSIVELY complex equation 'simply' even if you understood it all infinitely well! Even people with the greatest and smartest minds, such as his, are sometimes wrong.

    Explain it as simply as possible.
    Unfortunately the simplest explanation will still always be beyond your willingness let alone ability to understand it. Therefore we would be wasting our time giving the the simplest explanation even if one of us had it to give, which probably none of us do.
  7. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    14 Feb '20 19:342 edits
    @bunnyknight
    That was to answer the question Metal brain brought up. It's a field of force carrying lines capable of interacting with atoms and conductors. Anything beyond that you will have to ask a physicist and I doubt you would like his or her answer either.
    What CAUSES magnetism? it is one of the fundamental forces that came with the making of our universe so when the universe popped into place or whatever, magnetic fields were there from the start so you best ask a cosmologist that question. It would be like 'what causes atoms'.
  8. Joined
    06 Nov '15
    Moves
    41301
    14 Feb '20 20:12
    @sonhouse said
    @bunnyknight
    That was to answer the question Metal brain brought up. It's a field of force carrying lines capable of interacting with atoms and conductors. Anything beyond that you will have to ask a physicist and I doubt you would like his or her answer either.
    What CAUSES magnetism? it is one of the fundamental forces that came with the making of our universe so when the ...[text shortened]... re from the start so you best ask a cosmologist that question. It would be like 'what causes atoms'.
    I believe the answer to his question is in flux. 😀
  9. Standard memberbunnyknight
    bunny knight
    planet Earth
    Joined
    12 Dec '13
    Moves
    2917
    14 Feb '20 21:36
    @sonhouse
    My gut feeling is that nobody, not a single scientist on Earth, really knows what magnetism really is. It's just as mysterious as dark matter or dark energy.
  10. R
    Standard memberRemoved
    Joined
    10 Dec '06
    Moves
    8528
    14 Feb '20 22:391 edit
    @Metal-Brain

    I imagine you have alienated yourself enough among the resident physicists to the point of no return. I see that Deepthought has pretty much given up and resorted to sarcasm-ish responses. That says a lot ( about you ), he has been more than patient helping me untangle many past inquiries. I imagine you are bringing this up because wiki links it to "elementary particle spin", so don't believe there can be any further rational debate on the matter given the content in the recent thread you created.

    From Kazetnagorra i'd expect useless responses ( he's an egomaniac ), but Deepthought...no. You probably deserve the silent treatment...

    Good luck on your search for un-obfuscated "truth"!

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetism#Sources
  11. Standard memberwolfgang59
    Quiz Master
    RHP Arms
    Joined
    09 Jun '07
    Moves
    48793
    15 Feb '20 08:31
    @metal-brain said
    Explain it as simply as possible.

    If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
    -Albert Einstein
    What is the most complicated concept you know of?

    Explain it simply to us.
    Thanks.
  12. Germany
    Joined
    27 Oct '08
    Moves
    3118
    15 Feb '20 16:02
    @metal-brain said
    Explain it as simply as possible.

    If you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.
    -Albert Einstein
    Electric charges cause magnetism.

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnetic_field
  13. Joined
    06 Nov '15
    Moves
    41301
    15 Feb '20 16:38
    @wolfgang59 said
    What is the most complicated concept you know of?

    Explain it simply to us.
    Thanks.
    I know you weren't asking me Wolfman.

    But...

    Krebs Cycle.

    I passed A&P with a high 90. But, I've never felt all that great about it. This physiological jigsaw puzzle is the reason why.

    As for magnetism: I'm not attracted to the subject. 😊
  14. Standard memberbunnyknight
    bunny knight
    planet Earth
    Joined
    12 Dec '13
    Moves
    2917
    15 Feb '20 19:42
    @WOLFE63
    I really liked my first girlfriend. She had a magnetic personality.
  15. Subscribersonhouse
    Fast and Curious
    slatington, pa, usa
    Joined
    28 Dec '04
    Moves
    53223
    15 Feb '20 22:11
    @bunnyknight
    That's why you stuck to her?
Back to Top

Cookies help us deliver our Services. By using our Services or clicking I agree, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn More.I Agree