In physics, the electromagnetic force is the force that the electromagnetic field exerts on electrically charged particles. It is the electromagnetic force that holds electrons and nuclei together in atoms, and which hold atoms together to make molecules. The electromagnetic force operates via the exchange of messenger particles called photons. The exchange of messenger particles between bodies acts to create the perceptual force whereby instead of just pushing or pulling particles apart, the exchange changes the character of the particles that swap them. Physics (from the Greek, (phúsis), nature and (phusiké), knowledge of nature) is the science concerned with the discovery and understanding of the fundamental laws which govern matter, energy, space, and time. ... This article or section may be confusing or unclear for some readers, and should be edited to rectify this. ... The electron is a fundamental subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge. ... A semi-accurate depiction of the helium atom. ... Atomic redirects here. ... In science, a molecule is the smallest particle of a pure chemical substance that still retains its chemical composition and properties. ... Messenger particles are sub-atomic particles that are exchanged between matter and are responsible for force, (i. ... The word light is defined here as electromagnetic radiation of any wavelength; thus, X-rays, gamma rays, ultraviolet light, microwaves, radio waves, and visible light are all forms of light. ...

History

Originally, if at all possible electricity and magnetism were thought of as two separate forces. This view changed, however, with the publication of James Clerk Maxwell's 1873 Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism in which the interactions of positive and negative charges were shown to be regulated by one force. There are four main effects resulting from these interactions, which have been clearly demonstrated by experiment: Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... Magnetic lines of force of a bar magnet shown by iron filings on paper In physics, magnetism is one of the phenomena by which materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on other materials. ... James Clerk Maxwell (13 June 1831 – 5 November 1879) was an important mathematician and theoretical physicist. ...

1. Electric charges attract or repel one another with a force inversely proportional to the square of the distance between them: unlike charges attract, like ones repel.
2. Magnetic poles (or states of polarization at individual points) attract or repel one another in a similar way and always come in pairs: every north pole is yoked to a south pole.
3. An electric current in a wire creates a circular magnetic field around the wire, its direction depending on that of the current.
4. A current is induced in a loop of wire when it is moved towards or away from a magnetic field, or a magnet is moved towards or away from it, the direction of current depending on that of the movement.

Overview

The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces. The other fundamental forces are the strong nuclear force, which holds atomic nuclei together, the weak nuclear force, which causes certain forms of radioactive decay, and the gravitational force. All other forces are ultimately derived from these fundamental forces. A fundamental interaction is a mechanism by which particles interact with each other, and which cannot be explained by another more fundamental interaction. ... The strong interaction or strong force is today understood to represent the interactions between quarks and gluons as detailed by the theory of quantum chromodynamics (QCD). ... A semi-accurate depiction of the helium atom. ... The weak interaction (often called the weak force or sometimes the weak nuclear force) is one of the four fundamental interactions of nature. ... Radioactive decay is the set of various processes by which unstable atomic nuclei emit subatomic particles (radiation). ... Gravity is a force of attraction that acts between bodies that have mass. ...

The electromagnetic force is the one responsible for practically all the phenomena one encounters in daily life, with the exception of gravity. Roughly speaking, all the forces involved in interactions between atoms can be traced to the electromagnetic force acting on the electrically charged protons and electrons inside the atoms. This includes the forces we experience in "pushing" or "pulling" ordinary material objects, which come from the intermolecular forces between the individual molecules in our bodies and those in the objects. It also includes all forms of chemical phenomena, which arise from interactions between electron orbitals. Atomic redirects here. ... // For alternative meanings see proton (disambiguation). ... The electron is a fundamental subatomic particle that carries a negative electric charge. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... In chemistry, a molecule is an aggregate of two or more atoms in a definite arrangement held together by chemical bonds [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. Chemical substances are not infinitely divisible into smaller fractions of the same substance: a molecule is generally considered the smallest particle of a pure... Chemistry (from Greek χημεία khemeia[1] meaning alchemy) is the science of matter at the atomic to molecular scale, dealing primarily with collections of atoms, such as gases, molecules, crystals, and metals. ... Electron atomic and molecular orbitals In atomic physics, an electron orbital (or simply orbital) is the description of the behavior of an electron in an atom or molecule according to quantum mechanics. ...

See also

• Quantum electrodynamics

Quantum electrodynamics (QED) is a relativistic quantum field theory of electromagnetism. ...

External links

• Electromagnetic Force - from Eric Weisstein's World of Physics
• Ties That Bind Atoms Weaker Than Thought - LiveScience.com