I know that sounds pretty general...and it is...
As I understand it (or maybe don't), "magnetism" is actually an electrical force brought about by the alignment of the spin axes of electrons. Under the influence of electrical current, the alignmnets will occur in any conductor (thus the "electromagnetism" link) and all electrical fields have the magnetic component.
But, some materials will retain some of the electron spin alignmnets even when the electrical current is not present. Iron, nickle, cobalt, aluminum and other elements being the most common.
What's more, they can also be magnetized without the electrical current simply by moving then relative to each other so their fields interact (although that may very well be the result of currents that are generated by such an action).
When the magnetic influence (field) is static and encompassing a conductor, nothing happens but, when either the field varies or the concuctor moves within the field, electrical cureent is generated in the conductor.
If the electrons are dynamic (spinning and orbiting), why isn't the current being generated any time the magnetic field encompasses a conductor? Just intrisically, it sort of seems like the spin alignment should interact with the electrons in the conductors (much as it seems to interact with the electrons in another magnetized object) regardless of relative movement.
Now, I realize that I'm getting pretty close to some sort of, perpetual motion type concept here and, that's not allowed but, I'm only trying to sort out just exactly how this does work.
I'm sure there's a complex mathematical series that explains this but, is there also a simple, essentially "mechanical" answer, too? Have I missed the point either a little or a lot?
As I understand it (or maybe don't), "magnetism" is actually an electrical force brought about by the alignment of the spin axes of electrons. Under the influence of electrical current, the alignmnets will occur in any conductor (thus the "electromagnetism" link) and all electrical fields have the magnetic component.
But, some materials will retain some of the electron spin alignmnets even when the electrical current is not present. Iron, nickle, cobalt, aluminum and other elements being the most common.
What's more, they can also be magnetized without the electrical current simply by moving then relative to each other so their fields interact (although that may very well be the result of currents that are generated by such an action).
When the magnetic influence (field) is static and encompassing a conductor, nothing happens but, when either the field varies or the concuctor moves within the field, electrical cureent is generated in the conductor.
If the electrons are dynamic (spinning and orbiting), why isn't the current being generated any time the magnetic field encompasses a conductor? Just intrisically, it sort of seems like the spin alignment should interact with the electrons in the conductors (much as it seems to interact with the electrons in another magnetized object) regardless of relative movement.
Now, I realize that I'm getting pretty close to some sort of, perpetual motion type concept here and, that's not allowed but, I'm only trying to sort out just exactly how this does work.
I'm sure there's a complex mathematical series that explains this but, is there also a simple, essentially "mechanical" answer, too? Have I missed the point either a little or a lot?