Electricity and Magnetism

Even if we don't know exactly what they are or how they work, we've all heard of and even used electricity and magnetism, separately or together. We know we need electricity, we generate it for our homes, but how does it work? What rules does electricity follow? We know magnetism exists on earth, but where? Why does it work the way that it does? Also, how do both of these important physics concepts relate to one another? Let's find out.

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Team Electricity and Magnetism Teachers

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      Definition of Electricity and Magnetism in Physics

      In the world of physics, electricity and magnetism tend to go hand in hand. Both play key roles in electromagnetism and electromagnetic fields, and electric charges will not only have a response to electric fields but also to magnetic fields. Electric charges will generate their own magnetic fields when they’re moving through a wire, so in a sense, magnets will also have a response to electric fields sometimes.

      To first understand the relationship between electricity and magnetism, we must understand them as separate entities.

      Definition of Electricity

      Electricity does not have a strict definition, but rather a description.

      Electricity can be described as encompassing all the phenomena that occur as a result of electrical charges.

      Electric fields are areas in which an electric force can be felt.

      Electricity can be in one of two forms, either dynamic or static. These forms simply mean if the charged particles that make up electricity are moving or at rest, respectively. Moving charges form a current, and this is the form electricity takes in wires and electric circuits as a whole. On the other hand, static electricity occurs when a shift of electrons happened between two objects that aren’t typically good conductors of electricity, which means the charges of these two objects won’t be balanced.

      How good a material is at conducting or insulating electricity depends on whether or not the atoms that make up the material have a lot of free electrons. This is known as the valence of an atom, and the more so-called valence electrons, the better the material will conduct electricity.

      Definition of Magnetism

      Like electricity, magnetism is best introduced as a description rather than a hard definition.

      Magnetism can be described as encompassing all the phenomena that occur as a result of the magnetization of permanent and induced magnets and of charges that are in motion.

      Magnet fields are the areas in which magnetic force can be felt.

      Magnetic fields aren’t visible, and we know they exist because of their interactions with objects capable of interacting with a magnetic field. Examples of objects that can interact with magnetic fields include a small list of metals containing cobalt, nickel, and iron. As well as this, other magnetic fields are capable of interacting with them, including magnetic fields that we know can be generated from current moving through a wire.

      An image of a magnet.Fig. 1. A typical magnet, with a north and south pole.Wikimedia Commons

      When an electric field is generated from a magnetic field, or vice versa, this combination is responsible for a so-called electromagnetic field. This field sometimes transmits waves, which we call electromagnetic waves. These waves are responsible for a lot of things we see in everyday life, as radio waves, microwaves, visible light waves, X-rays, and gamma rays all fall under electromagnetic waves.

      Difference Between Electricity and Magnetism

      We have already established that the relationship between electricity and magnetism is a strong one, but there are still things that set them both apart. For example, electric fields are far more powerful than magnetic fields, in the sense that the forces they exert are more massive compared to the energy required to generate them.

      Another key difference between electricity and magnetism is that an electric field can be generated by an electric monopole, which is a single point from which the electric field lines emerge. This isn't possible in magnetism: as magnetic monopoles don't exist, there must always be two poles to a magnetic source, and as such, there are no magnetic fields that have magnetic field lines emerging from a single point.

      Effects of Electricity and Magnetism

      The effect of an electric charge moving is the induction of a magnetic field. In turn, the effect of a moving magnetic field is the subsequent induction of an electric current.


      Electricity and Magnetism A magnetic current loop circling an electric field StudySmarterFig. 2. An example of a magnetic current inducing an electric field. Wikimedia Commons

      Electricity and magnetism have many effects on many things. Notable, however, are the effects on the human body and its health. The human body contains and uses electric currents regularly, in the brain, in the nervous system, and throughout the rest of the body. Electric and magnetic fields running through the body are therefore capable of generating electric current inside your body, possibly causing visual disturbances, as well as muscle movements, as your muscles are activated by electric current. However, for external electric and magnetic fields, this would require a much higher field strength than what is standard in the electric and magnetic fields you may encounter in everyday life, so it isn't a problem you'd expect to ever run into.

      Properties of Electricity and Magnetism

      We've looked at what electricity and magnetism are capable of causing in terms of effects, what their similarities are, and what their differences are. But what are their actual properties?

      The first and most obvious property of magnetism is that it will produce a magnetic attraction or repulsion to objects and materials that are magnetic. Secondly, the poles of magnets will always repel each other if they're the same, and always attract each other if they are opposite. Thirdly, if a magnet is in a state of suspension, with no forces acting on it other than the Earth's magnetic force, it will come to rest in an orientation facing north to south. Finally, if a magnet possesses one pole, it will always have another opposite pole: there are no magnetic monopoles.

      The most important property of electricity is that there are electric monopoles: electrons have a negative charge while protons have a positive charge. Like charges will repel each other and opposite charges attract each other. The Earth has no electric field, so a charged object will not have any tendency to a particular direction or orientation if no forces act on it except the electromagnetic field of the Earth.

      Example of Electricity and Magnetism in Physics

      As you may know, electricity and magnetism are frequently encountered and used in everyday life, especially electricity, as it powers our whole world.

      Magnetism

      By far the biggest example of magnetism you may know of is the magnetic field covering the entire planet, known as the magnetosphere. The magnetosphere protects us from harmful radiation from out there in deeper space, as well as solar radiation emitted from our Sun.

      Electricity and Magnetism A diagram of the earth with magnetic dipoles displayed StudySmarter

      Fig. 3. The magnetic field of the Earth, with the field emitting from the south pole and entering through the north pole, Wikimedia Commons

      Compasses demonstrate magnetism in conjunction with our helpful magnetosphere. The needle in a compass is magnetized, so as long as it is on Earth, the Earth's magnetic field will affect it. The tip of the needle is its north pole, which is why is it attracted to the North Pole: the North Pole is the magnetic south pole.

      Electricity

      Of course, we know the many uses of electricity and how it powers many of our appliances and machines that we use every day. But how about some of the lesser-known, equally important ways electricity is used? Let's start with electroplating. Electroplating is the process of covering a metal with a layer of oxide that protects it. This is done through the use of an electric current that will dissolve impurities in the metal. See the image below for what this looks like.

      Electricity and Magnetism A beaker with liquid in, two metal objects connected to a square with labels StudySmarter

      Fig. 4. How electroplating works: the spoon is immersed in liquid while a current is flowing between the cathode and anode to coat the metal in the oxide in the liquid, Wikimedia Commons

      One of the more fantastical but very real examples of electricity is how some creatures use it as a means of detection. Mostly underwater animals such as sharks will generate their own electric field in an area around their body, and if another creature passes through this field, it would change the field slightly. The shark would know this, as well as where in the field the disturbance occurred, and pounce upon the prey. This is known as electroreception.

      Electricity and Magnetism - Key takeaways

      • Electricity and magnetism have many similarities and differences.
        • Both play key roles in electromagnetic fields and electromagnetic waves, like radio waves, microwaves, visible light, X-rays, and gamma rays.
        • However, electric fields are usually much stronger than magnetic fields, and there are electric monopoles while there are no magnetic monopoles.
      • Electricity and magnetism both affect each other and one can always induce the other.
      • Electricity is used in the human body to send messages through neurons.
      • Properties of magnetism:
        • Like magnetic poles repel each other and opposite magnetic poles attract each other.
        • The Earth has a magnetic field that influences all magnets.
        • There are no magnetic monopoles.
      • Properties of electricity:
        • Like electric charges repel each other and opposite electric charges attract each other.
        • There are electric monopoles, e.g. electrons and protons.
      • An example of electricity in physics is electroplating.
      • An example of magnetism in physics is the Earth's magnetosphere.
      Frequently Asked Questions about Electricity and Magnetism

      What is an example of electricity and magnetism? 

      An example of electricity and magnetism is the electromagnetic field. Both an electric field and magnetic field oscillate simultaneously generating electromagnetic forces that have a multitude of uses.

      What is electricity and magnetism? 

      Electricity and magnetism are similar things, electricity is the flow and presence of charges which can induce a magnetic field, and magnetism in turn can move charges to generate an electric current.

      Is electricity and magnetism the same? 

      Electricity and magnetism are similar, but not the same. A difference in them is present in electromagnetic fields, where they both oscillate, but perpendicular to one another.

      What is the importance of electricity and magnetism? 

      Electricity and magnetism are both important as they both exist commonly on the planet. We use electricity to power our homes, and magnetic forces covering the Earth protect us from harmful radiation in space.

      How does electricity produce magnetism? 

      Electricity produces magnetism by moving charges. By running a current through a coil of wire, a magnetic field will be induced.

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      StudySmarter Editorial Team

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