Magnetism is a strange force, mysteriously attracting one object to another apparently through empty space. It has been claimed as a great healer, with magnetic therapies being proposed over the centuries and still popular today. Why are its mysterious important to solve? In this Very Short Introduction, Stephen J. Blundell explains why. For centuries magnetism has been used for various exploits; through compasses it gave us navigation and through motors, generators, and turbines it has given us power. Blundell explores our understanding of electricity and magnetism, from the work of Galvani, Ampere, Faraday, and Tesla, and goes on to explore how Maxwell and Faraday's work led to the unification of electricity and magnetism, thought of as one of the most imaginative developments in theoretical physics. With a discussion of the relationship between magnetism and relativity, quantum magnetism, and its impact on computers and information storage, Blundell shows how magnetism has changed our fundamental understanding of the Universe.
Magnetism: A Very Short Introduction
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Stephen J. Blundell is Professor of Physics at Oxford University and a Fellow of Mansfield College.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
By kclam
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book demystifies magnetism and presents the development history leading up to unification of electricity and magnetism. It also covers applications of magnetism and the magnetic field of our Earth and Solar System.
Magnetism has a deep association with electricity, relativity and quantum theory. Magnetic field appears in nature when a charge is moving with respect to the observer; magnetism is a purely relativistic effect. Magnetic properties of materials can be explained by quantum mechanics. Electrons either spin one way or the other; it is electron spin that produces magnetism.
Magnetism is vital in our maritime, industrial and information revolutions as well as magnetic navigation in animals. The fusion reactors would one day solve the Earth's energy crisis. The Earth's magnetic field has changed and even reversed over time!
Magnetism has a deep association with electricity, relativity and quantum theory. Magnetic field appears in nature when a charge is moving with respect to the observer; magnetism is a purely relativistic effect. Magnetic properties of materials can be explained by quantum mechanics. Electrons either spin one way or the other; it is electron spin that produces magnetism.
Magnetism is vital in our maritime, industrial and information revolutions as well as magnetic navigation in animals. The fusion reactors would one day solve the Earth's energy crisis. The Earth's magnetic field has changed and even reversed over time!
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By Dr. Bojan Tunguz
TOP 500 REVIEWER
Format:Paperback
Magnetism is electricity's less appreciated twin. In our daily lives we only think of magnetism in the context of fridge magnets, magnetic clasps, or at most when considering the needle of the compass. However, magnetism is one of the most pervasive and useful natural phenomena, and in so many ways modern life would be unimaginable without it.
This very short introduction aims to give a very comprehensive account of the phenomenon of magnetism. The book goes into the history of our understanding of magnetism, describes some significant discoveries, provides theoretical explanation of magnetism, and examines some of the most significant applications of magnetism today. Some of these applications have become so ubiquitous that we don't even think of them much any more - such as the magnetic memory that is the bases of all hard drives that are in use today. Others are a bit more obscure but no less fascinating. The book is written with a non-scientist in mind, although some degree of scientific literacy and appreciation of science will go a long way in making the most out of this material. Aside from a very short appendix, the book contains no equations and "scary" scientific graphs. There are a few neat diagrams though, that manage to explain concepts visually for those of us who like that kind of thing. Even if you are an experienced scientist, or even a physicist (like myself) you'll find a lot of useful and intriguing tidbits of information within this short volume. This is particularly true if you happen to teach some course that deals with magnetism.
The writing in this book is very lucid and engaging. It is definitely one of the better-written popular science books. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wishes to broaden his or her understanding of science.
This very short introduction aims to give a very comprehensive account of the phenomenon of magnetism. The book goes into the history of our understanding of magnetism, describes some significant discoveries, provides theoretical explanation of magnetism, and examines some of the most significant applications of magnetism today. Some of these applications have become so ubiquitous that we don't even think of them much any more - such as the magnetic memory that is the bases of all hard drives that are in use today. Others are a bit more obscure but no less fascinating. The book is written with a non-scientist in mind, although some degree of scientific literacy and appreciation of science will go a long way in making the most out of this material. Aside from a very short appendix, the book contains no equations and "scary" scientific graphs. There are a few neat diagrams though, that manage to explain concepts visually for those of us who like that kind of thing. Even if you are an experienced scientist, or even a physicist (like myself) you'll find a lot of useful and intriguing tidbits of information within this short volume. This is particularly true if you happen to teach some course that deals with magnetism.
The writing in this book is very lucid and engaging. It is definitely one of the better-written popular science books. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wishes to broaden his or her understanding of science.
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.4 out of 5 stars
11 reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
a broad account, with care taken to explain the theory
8 Aug 2012
By Nigel Kirk
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
This slim volume delivers everything that the VSI concept promises. The text is relaxed and good-humoured, reviewing early historical views, perhaps `beliefs' is more accurate, about magnetism. The author describes applications of magnetism, including sound recording and data storage, and surveys future possibilities. He outlines the role of magnetism in the solar system and the universe at large, and pays particular attention to the solar wind and magnetic fields of planets.
The main body of the text explains research into magnetism as the scientific method was applied, going on to reveal the quantum physical basis of magnetism. The theoretical and historical diversions are appropriate and inserted helpfully. The author, Professor Stephen Blundell, is to be commended for keeping these explanations lucid and accessible. His disinclination to introduce formulae is a bit tedious, no doubt in response to an editorial rider applied by Oxford Uni Press. This very minor concern is compensated by a useful further reading list which, in 2012, is current.
This VSI has inclined me to read the related VSIs on relativity, superconductivity and quantum theory, topics on which I am reasonably familiar but which I expect, from my experience with this book, will also be well summarised in this series.
The main body of the text explains research into magnetism as the scientific method was applied, going on to reveal the quantum physical basis of magnetism. The theoretical and historical diversions are appropriate and inserted helpfully. The author, Professor Stephen Blundell, is to be commended for keeping these explanations lucid and accessible. His disinclination to introduce formulae is a bit tedious, no doubt in response to an editorial rider applied by Oxford Uni Press. This very minor concern is compensated by a useful further reading list which, in 2012, is current.
This VSI has inclined me to read the related VSIs on relativity, superconductivity and quantum theory, topics on which I am reasonably familiar but which I expect, from my experience with this book, will also be well summarised in this series.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Short, Comprehensive, Interesting
13 Jan 2013
By Dr. Bojan Tunguz
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Magnetism is electricity's less appreciated twin. In our daily lives we only think of magnetism in the context of fridge magnets, magnetic clasps, or at most when considering the needle of the compass. However, magnetism is one of the most pervasive and useful natural phenomena, and in so many ways modern life would be unimaginable without it.
This very short introduction aims to give a very comprehensive account of the phenomenon of magnetism. The book goes into the history of our understanding of magnetism, describes some significant discoveries, provides theoretical explanation of magnetism, and examines some of the most significant applications of magnetism today. Some of these applications have become so ubiquitous that we don't even think of them much any more - such as the magnetic memory that is the bases of all hard drives that are in use today. Others are a bit more obscure but no less fascinating. The book is written with a non-scientist in mind, although some degree of scientific literacy and appreciation of science will go a long way in making the most out of this material. Aside from a very short appendix, the book contains no equations and "scary" scientific graphs. There are a few neat diagrams though, that manage to explain concepts visually for those of us who like that kind of thing. Even if you are an experienced scientist, or even a physicist (like myself) you'll find a lot of useful and intriguing tidbits of information within this short volume. This is particularly true if you happen to teach some course that deals with magnetism.
The writing in this book is very lucid and engaging. It is definitely one of the better-written popular science books. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wishes to broaden his or her understanding of science.
This very short introduction aims to give a very comprehensive account of the phenomenon of magnetism. The book goes into the history of our understanding of magnetism, describes some significant discoveries, provides theoretical explanation of magnetism, and examines some of the most significant applications of magnetism today. Some of these applications have become so ubiquitous that we don't even think of them much any more - such as the magnetic memory that is the bases of all hard drives that are in use today. Others are a bit more obscure but no less fascinating. The book is written with a non-scientist in mind, although some degree of scientific literacy and appreciation of science will go a long way in making the most out of this material. Aside from a very short appendix, the book contains no equations and "scary" scientific graphs. There are a few neat diagrams though, that manage to explain concepts visually for those of us who like that kind of thing. Even if you are an experienced scientist, or even a physicist (like myself) you'll find a lot of useful and intriguing tidbits of information within this short volume. This is particularly true if you happen to teach some course that deals with magnetism.
The writing in this book is very lucid and engaging. It is definitely one of the better-written popular science books. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who wishes to broaden his or her understanding of science.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Quantum physics on your fridge door
8 April 2013
By Mats Frick
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Kindle Edition
This is an excellent introduction to magnetism. It gives the reader knowledge on phenomena, history and theory on a topic that is surprisingly complex and at the same time part of everyday experience. If you need to read up on magnetism look no further.
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4.4 out of 5 stars
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