What does magnetism mean?

The term magnetism describes the force of repulsion and attraction between different substances, such as iron and other metals. In magnetism, the motion of charged particles is ultimately responsible for the attraction or repulsion between substances. Magnetism also results from the very structure of the atom, with each atom consisting of a nucleus, which contains neutral neutrons and positive protons. The negatively charged electrons are constantly in motion around this nucleus, and it is this motion that produces a magnetic field, which in turn produces magnetism. All materials have some degree of magnetic properties, but some are far more magnetic than others. The degree of magnetism is related to the degree of mobility of the electrons of a material.