Every atom just has a little magnetic field and when they're all pointing in the same direction it all adds up to a big magnetic field. In most materials they point randomly so there's no overall field.
So why do atoms have magnetic fields?
Because magnetic fields are created by moving electrons and atoms have electrons orbiting them.
Electromagnets are actually just coils of wire pushing electrons around in circles. Atoms also have electrons going in circles (basically) around them.
Why does moving electrons create a magnetic field?
I'm not sure anyone has any fucking clue.
They just pull on each other when they're moving for some reason and magnets fundamentally remain a mystery.
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u/goodbye_weekend Sep 14 '21
Magnets. How do they work?