/sci/ - Science & Math

[Anonymous No.2258917]

I recently found out that our atmosphere is basically opaque to most of the electromagnetic spectrum, with the exception of radio frequencies and visible light.

Now, photons are the energy currency of electromagnetism (light is a form of electromagnetic energy, and is made of photons, for example). Magnetism, which is really just the relativistic side of electromagnetism, works via an exchange of photons. So, when you have two magnets acting on each other, they are really just exchanging photons, right? But our atmosphere is apparently mostly opaque to most of the electromagnetic spectrum.

My question is: Would magnets work better in a vacuum than they do in our atmosphere?

[Anonymous No.2258941]

Bump.

[Anonymous No.2259016]

stumped

and bumped

[Anonymous No.2259033]

Damit

Bump I think that opacity has to do with density of the medium thou and how much of said medium the photon needs to travel through.

[Anonymous No.2259048]

>>2259033
You are correct, sir. Magnets do not depend on particles, so their effectiveness is not based on atmospheric thickness. They are entirely a field phenomena.

[Anonymous No.2259056]

>>2258917
i figure that they would work better but the force needed to take them apart would be less due to abscence of gravity effecting muscles

[μαθμαν - the enlightened undergraduate !!vnLoxcfyRGs No.2259062]

>So, when you have two magnets acting on each other, they are really just exchanging photons, right?
No.

[Anonymous No.2259144]

>>2259062
Yes they are.

[Anonymous No.2259176]

no electromagnetism is transmitted by photons but like all forces they are virtual meaning you can't detect them and they and only be detected via the work they do
virtual particles aren't affected by mediums or barriers not even a black hole will stop them