Bohr–van Leeuwen theorem – magnetism in solids is a quantum mechanical effect

Re:Bohr–van Leeuwen theorem – magnetism in solids is a quant... by achn on Sunday July 19, 2020 @05:06PM (#23892433)

You are not the odd man out, I have also seen this multiple times and had the same reaction. There is always a deeper level to explore, but good teaching both provides enlightenment and hints on where to look further.

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Re:Bohr–van Leeuwen theorem – magnetism in solids is a quant... by aeternum on Sunday July 19, 2020 @08:43PM (#23893666)

He does explain it at around the 5:30 minute mark by saying that it is the aligned spin of the atoms within magnets that give them their peculiar strength.

I think that his leadup is an attempt to get a couple points across:

1) That we typically can explain things in terms of more basic or more 'fundamental' concepts. This does not work with magnetism since magnetism itself is a fundamental force. Attempts to explain via analogy should be avoided.

2) Even the spin explanation probably does more harm than good. A non-physicist will think of atoms spinning like a top, which is wrong and misleading.

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