What's the difference between gravity and magnetism?

1. 78

   Seeker7posted 13 years ago

   What's the difference between gravity and magnetism?
   
   For some this will be a really dumb question. But I do have a hard time getting my head around some of this stuff. but I do like to learn.

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2. 75

   Mikel G Robertsposted 13 years ago

   http://hubpages.com/hub/Gravity_the_Magnetism_of_Mass

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3. 0

   ssaulposted 13 years ago

   The force of magnetism is stronger than gravity in close distances, and weaker than gravity in further distances. Gravity is the attractive "force" between ALL matter. Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle in the universe, whether it is has electrical charge or not. Gravity has no poles...the force is always attractive, even between matter and anti-matter, and from any direction.
   
   Magnetism is nothing more than electrical charged particles in motion. Magnetism only affects "charged" matter such as electrons and protons. Magnets always have 2 opposite poles. Opposite poles attract, like poles repel. Charged particles moving through a magnetic field will curve one way if they have a positive charge, and the other way if the have a negative charge.

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4. 62

   peterxdunnposted 13 years ago

   The standard model of physics tells us that gravity and magnetism are two totally unrelated forces.
   
   However, if you take Newton's inverse square law of gravitation - which states that when the distance between two bodies in space is doubled the amount of gravitaional force exerted falls to a quarter of its former value - and compare it with the fact that when you take a permanent magnet and compress it to half its original size (by squashing its atoms/molecules closer together) the amount of magnetic force present will increase fourfold.
   
   No relationship? I wouldn't be too sure about that.
   
   I know this doesn't really answer your question but this odd relationship/non-relationship has been mentally niggling away at my brain for years.
   
   Thank you, Seeker7, for giving me this chance to share it.

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5. 0

   Butch Newsposted 13 years ago

   I don't agree that gravity is attraction between masses (that is just a bad conclusion of observations)... I have a theory of my own.  Physics is one of my "things".  However, they are not the same kinds of forces at all even if they appear to have some similar properties.
   
   Magnetism is related to electrical forces while gravity in conventional physics is related to inertia.  There is no relationship at all except the inverse square relationship of attraction.
   
   Acceleration between masses is different for gravity and magnetism.  Acceleration for gravity is constant while acceleration for magnetism increases with reduction in distance between the magnetically influenced objects.

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6. 60

   Tricia Barnesposted 13 years ago

   Gravity is the attractive "force" between ALL matter. Every particle in the universe attracts every other particle in the universe, whether it is has electrical charge or not. Gravity has no poles...the force is always attractive, even between matter and anti-matter, and from any direction.
   Magnetism is nothing more than electricaly charged particles in motion. Magnetism only affects "charged" matter such as electrons and protons. Magnets always have 2 opposite poles. Opposite poles attract, like poles repel. Charged particles moving through a magnetic field will curve one way if they have a positive charge, and the other way if the have a negative charge.

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7. 38

   pegasus525posted 13 years ago

   First of all, gravity, as a distinct force, acts between on two objects no matter what their compositions are. As long as the objects have mass, gravitational forces will act between them. Any two objects, as long as they have mass, will be pulled towards each other if there is gravity or gravitational force.
   
   In contrast, magnetism primarily depends on the specific properties of the object. The force of magnetism has two directions. It can pull objects together or it can also pull them away from each other. The behavior of magnetism is also influenced by the alignment of electrons inside the objects.

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8. 0

   vinsanityposted 13 years ago

   I think gravity is you being pulled towards something that is very big and magnetism is something that your magnetized toward?

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