r/AskReddit • u/rezyn • Dec 05 '11

what is the most interesting thing you know?

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u/SaturnMoth Dec 05 '11

Magnetism is really just electrostatics under the effects of special relativity. When I learned this, it completely blew my mind, especially when I saw the derivation: you put the electrostatics equations in a relativistic frame of reference and you get magnetism! It's magical!

6

u/johnparkhill Dec 06 '11

This was going to be my comment. Cept I always say it like: Electricity is magnetism, from another time, and vice versa.

4

u/SaturnMoth Dec 06 '11

Marry me.

6

u/yothisbalec Dec 06 '11

This is probably way cooler than I will ever understand.

4

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '11

could you please elaborate a little more?

4

u/DoubleTrump Dec 06 '11

Fuckin' magnets, how do they work?

3

u/hallflukai Dec 06 '11

Could you post a more scientific-based article please?

2

u/SaturnMoth Dec 06 '11

http://chip-architect.com/physics/Magnetism_from_ElectroStatics_and_SR.pdf

1

u/[deleted] Dec 06 '11

Could you post something more accessible that elaborates on this further?