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How do magnetic fields work?

36grit
in Modern and Theoretical Physics

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Can anybody explain how magnet fields work? Why do opposites attact? and likes repel?

Edited by 36grit

We don't understand why positives and negatives attract and likes repel. Or why they exist. We do know that they appear to though. We can also make magnets now.

Presumably for reasons similar to why like charges repel and opposites attract. We don't know why that behavior is there, but observe that it's what happens. We have a model, involving exchange of virtual photons, that tells us how the EM interaction works, but it doesn't tell us why that it must be so.

Can anybody explain how magnet fields work? Why do opposites attact? and likes repel?

 

 

Do you mean magnets or magnetic fields?

 

Fields don't have a 'like' and 'unlike'.

 

They are vectors and have a strength and a direction.

So they add vectorially.

 

Magnetic vectors in the same direction reinforce, those in the opposite direction weaken the total field where they interact.

 

Magnets have poles that attract or repel, is this what you are really asking about?

Edited by studiot

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