Question

Modern view on magnetism

Answer 1

The molecular theory of magnetism was a considerable step forward but later there came an electrical explanation for the magnetism of atoms and this had wider applications. We have already seen that magnets can be made by an electric current. Atoms contain particles of electricity called electrons which move in orbits about a central nucleus. These electrons behave like an electric current in a single turn of wire and so create a magnetic field. More importantly, the electrons are also spinning like tops and this adds further magnetism to the atom.