When All Spins Align
2. The Birth of a Magnet
Here’s where the keyword comes into play: When electrons all spin in the same direction, we get a phenomenon called ferromagnetism (noun). It’s the root of how permanent magnets work. Think of your fridge magnets — they owe their stickiness to aligned electron spins.
In ferromagnetic materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt, there are regions called “magnetic domains.” Within each domain, the electron spins are already aligned. However, in an unmagnetized material, these domains are randomly oriented, so the overall magnetic effect is canceled out. When you apply an external magnetic field, these domains tend to align with the field, and the material becomes magnetized.
The really cool part is that even after you remove the external field, some of the domains remain aligned, creating a permanent magnet. The stronger the material’s ability to retain this alignment, the stronger the resulting magnet. It’s like a bunch of tiny compasses deciding to stick together even after the guiding force is gone.
Imagine all those tiny spinning electrons, each contributing a minuscule magnetic field. When they’re all aligned, those tiny fields add up to create a macroscopic magnetic field that you can feel. It’s a collective effort, a symphony of spins working together to create something powerful.