Magnets - Attractive Little Things!
by:
Nick Grains
Magnets can be ready-made by placing a magnetic material such as iron or steel, in a strong magnetic field. Permanent, temporary and electromagnets can be ready-made in this manner.
That's the boring technical information.
But for everyone else, magnets and magnetism have an just about sorcerous quality. They do heavy metal objects dance and wiggle. They have an attractive force that's invisible, just about otherworldly. Weird stuff, but compelling too.
There are many an legends accounting for the discovery of magnets. One of the most common, is that of an older shepherd named Magnes, who was social
his sheep in an area of Northern Balkan state called Magnesia, just about 4,000 years ago.
It is same
that some
the nails in his shoes and the metal tip of his staff became firmly stuck to the large, black rock on which he was standing. This type of rock was afterward named magnetite, after either Mineral
or Magnes himself.
Stories of magnetism date back to the 1st century B.C in the writings of Lucretius, and the sorcerous powers of magnetic iron-ore are mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder.
For many an years following its discovery, magnetic iron-ore was encircled in superstitious notion and was considered to possess sorcerous powers, such as the ability to heal the sick, frighten away evil spirits and attract and dissolve ships ready-made of iron!
People presently
completed that magnetic iron-ore not only attracted objects ready-made of iron, but once
ready-made into the shape of a needle and floated on water, magnetic iron-ore always pointed in a north-south direction creating a primitive compass.
So next time you pick up a magnet, think just about its weird nature. And I'll bet you likewise come it towards thing
ready-made of ferris metal. That's steel or iron to you - the stuff that magnets just love!
About The Author
Nick Grains has a healthy obsession for things that act funny - like magnets! You can find out much at his site dedicated to all things magnets at: http://www.hot-magnets.info/.
This article was announce on Sept
26, 2005
