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.
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.