Monday, September 6, 2010

How Magnetism Shed Its Affects Throughout The Past

Magnetism comprises one of the initial natural forces that humans ever discovered, however, it was only lately that the complete usage of magnetism has been realized and practiced upon. Several devise and technologies have magnetism working behind them, so much so that our world appears to be incomplete without them. For {instance|example], if you go for an ipod repair or an iphone repair then most certainly it is electromagnetism that powers these devises. Have a view at some of the intriguing facts and stories on magnetism that have been collected through ancient times.

You may be wondering how magnets were really discovered. Legend has it that a shepherd named Magnes who used to live some 4,000 years ago got his shoes stuck to a rock that had nails that got attracted to a rock named magnetite. Without much understanding of the phenomenon at that period, it was believed that the rock had supernatural powers.

Archimedes, a scientist of ancient Greece, is believed to have pulled the nails out of rivals ships using a magnet which resulted in the sinking of all the enemy ships. It was Archimedes who realized the importance of magnetism. Besides, magnets have been employed throughout ancient times for navigation reasons by sailors. They found that a fragment of magnet balanced by a thread will every time point in the North-South orientation. This is what resulted in the discovery of compasses. This is why magnetite was known as the leading stone because it helped in direction.

Frequently, you will see that magnets are constructed of steel or iron. However, powerful magnets can be made by alloys of metals including iron, nickel, copper, cobalt, etc. In older times, hammering alongwith heating a fragment of steel or iron in the north-south orientation was used as a way to magnetize them. With this technique, the molecules have assembled themselves in the north-south orientation. Magnets are not only stones found on our earth, but the whole of earth itself behaves as a magnet. Earth is a magnet that also comprises of the North and South Pole. When you place a non-magnetic substance in a North to South orientation, it results in magnetizing it. This happens due to the availability of a magnetic field surrounding the earth and the molecules obtain enough time to get assembled in the North-South orientation.

The question is; what causes the earth to change into a magnet? It is believed that this magnetic force of the earth comes from a liquid in the center of the earth that makes the earth to turn in to a gigantic electromagnet. It’s basically the flow of liquid metal that generates electrical flow, and a magnetic field is generated as a result of this flow of charge. Yet, the confusing part is explaining the source of the magnetic field that started it all in the first place. There is a theory that the powerful magnetic field from the sun was the cause to initiate the process when earth was created. But, we can’t declare this for sure. Whatever means it began, it is truly a marvel of nature.

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