Magnets can be made by placing a magnetic material such as
iron or steel, in a strong magnetic field. Permanent,
temporary and electromagnets can be made in this manner.

That’s the boring technical information.

But for everyone else, magnets and magnetism have an almost
magical quality. They make heavy metal objects dance and
wiggle. They have an attractive force that’s invisible,
almost otherworldly. Weird stuff, but compelling too.

There are many legends accounting for the discovery of
magnets. One of the most common, is that of an elderly
shepherd named Magnes, who was herding his sheep in an area
of Northern Greece called Magnesia, about 4,000 years ago.

It is said that both 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
subsequently named magnetite, after either Magnesia or
Magnes himself.

Stories of magnetism date back to the first century B.C in
the writings of Lucretius, and the magical powers of
magnetite are mentioned in the writings of Pliny the Elder.

For many years following its discovery, magnetite was
surrounded in superstition and was considered to possess
magical powers, such as the ability to heal the sick,
frighten away evil spirits and attract and dissolve ships
made of iron!

People soon realized that magnetite not only attracted
objects made of iron, but when made into the shape of a
needle and floated on water, magnetite always pointed in a
north-south direction creating a primitive compass.

So next time you pick up a magnet, think about its weird
nature. And I’ll bet you also move it towards something made
of ferris metal. That’s steel or iron to you - the stuff
that magnets simply love!

bio = Nick Grains has a healthy obsession for things that act funny - like magnets! You can find out more at his site dedicated to all things magnets at: http://www.hot-magnets.info/

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