What causes magnetic forces between objects?

Magnetic forces between objects are caused by the interaction of their magnetic fields.

Magnetic forces are a fundamental aspect of physics, and they occur due to the interaction of magnetic fields. These fields are created by moving electric charges, such as those found in electrons. Every object that has a magnetic field, whether it's a bar magnet or an electrical wire, exerts a force on other magnetic objects within its field. This force can either attract or repel, depending on the orientation of the magnetic fields involved.

The strength of the magnetic force depends on two main factors: the distance between the objects and the strength of their magnetic fields. The closer the objects are, the stronger the force. Similarly, the stronger the magnetic field of an object, the stronger the force it can exert on other objects. This is described by the inverse square law, which states that the force is inversely proportional to the square of the distance between the objects.

The direction of the magnetic force is also important. If the magnetic fields of two objects are aligned in the same direction (i.e., their north and south poles match), they will attract each other. If the fields are aligned in opposite directions (i.e., north to south or south to north), they will repel each other. This is often summarised as 'opposites attract, likes repel'.

In summary, magnetic forces are caused by the interaction of magnetic fields, which are created by moving electric charges. The strength and direction of these forces depend on the distance between the objects, the strength of their magnetic fields, and the alignment of these fields.