Magnetics
1.0 Introduction
1.0 Introduction
The first magnetic phenomenon observed was those associated with naturally occurring magnets; pieces of iron found near Magnesia (hence the term "magnet").
The study of the magnetic phenomenon remained confined for thousands of years to magnets made in this way. In 1820 Danish scientist Hans Christian Oersted observed that a compass was deflected when it placed near a current-carrying wire. This made the connection between electrical and magnetic phenomenon. On this basis, Oersted thus demonstrated that the magnetic effect could be produced by moving charge. It is now known that all magnetic phenomena result from forces between electric charges in motion. That is, charges in motion relative to an observer produce a magnetic field as well as an electric field.
