Magnetism and Fermions

Opposing poles in a magnet attract each other. Is this anything to do with Quantum Mechanics because fermions can only be in an orbital with another fermion that has an opposing spin.
- Zahra (age 18)
United States of America

No, not directly. The interaction comes from the magnetic field. Even magnets made of currents running around loops show attraction of opposite poles. Quantum mechanics is involved at a different level, in causing the electron spins in some materials to line up with each other, making the magnetic field that you notice.

Mike W.

(published on 12/28/2016)