From a post at OU:In my course on electromagnetics at MIT, we were taught that "no one knows if the magnetic lines of force rotate with the magnet". This is nonsense, and even Richard Feynman agrees with me. There are a number of simple experiments to determine if the magnetic lines of force rotate with the magnet, and I have performed many of them. In all of my experiments, the end result was that the magnetic lines of force do *NOT* rotate with the magnet. The very best experiment that you can do is to obtain some ferromagnetic fluid (like "Magnasee" or "Magnaview") that has nano-sized ferromagnetic particles in it. Pour the fluid on a non-conductive platter (like a plate or saucer. or a petri dish), and then place a neodymium ring magnet on the bottom of the plate. You will now see the ferro-fluid arrange itself in a manner that reflects the position and strength of the magnetic lines of force (what Faraday called "tubes of force" in his writings). As you rotate the magnet (on its magnetic axis) on the bottom, you will see that the lines of force do not rotate with the magnet. You *may* see that some of the lines of force undulate a bit as you do this-- but that is because no permanent magnet is perfect, and there may be areas of the magnet that have slightly stronger or weaker magnetic activity.
What this must mean, is that the spinning and/or revolving charged particles in the magnet are somehow affecting (or "disturbing") the local space-time (the aether) that surrounds and permeates the magnet-- in a way that causes these "lines of force" to form. The same thing happens when you pass a current through a coil of wire.
To really understand what is happening with either a permanent magnet, or an electromagnet, one must understand the nature of the aether.
<speculation The aether, must have small particles in it that resemble a electric and/or magnetic dipole-- probably cylindrical, and spinning like a gyro at relativistic speeds. These particles are probably very small-- on the order of one-half Plank length. The aether, must be a fluid that is extremely dense (many times that of lead), but at the same time it behaves like a super-fluid to objects moving through it. It is clear, that application of an AC electric field can (at least partially) make this fluid more dense (or rigid)-- much like a liquid crystal. It is also clear that a DC electric field can (at least partially) cause this fluid to rarefy. The presence of a charged particle appears to cause the electromagnetic dipoles to line up in a serial fashion-- creating "electric lines of force", that are perpendicular to the surface of the charged particle. The absolute motion of a charged particle through the aether appears to cause the electromagnetic dipoles to form a ring (the "magnetic line of force"), the axis of which is normal to the direction of motion. Since the electromagnetic particles are spinning (like a gyroscope), it takes time for the lines of force to be formed-- for the gyroscopic particles to "precess", and line up in a serial fashion. The faster the particles move in the aether, the greater the energy in the magnetic field (and the larger it's influence.)
Neutral particles (like neutrons) must be formed of an equal number of positive and negative charged particles-- (probably one electron, and one neutron), but because the electric fields are so short, there is no observable electric field outside of th neutral particle-- though one does exist.) If a neutral particle (like a neutron) is moved through the aether, there would also be an associated magnetic field set up for each of the positive and negative particles-- but again, the field is so short that it is not easily observable outside of the neutral particle.
It also appears that the aether can be "dragged along" by matter-- like eddies in a pond. The Earth probably drags the aether around with it as it rotates on it's axis, and revolves around the sun, and as the solar system travels through space (towards the constellation Leo, I think). This is why the Michelson-Morley experiment gave a null result (actually it was slightly positive), and the experiments of Dayton Miller showed a definite positive result. This was the reason that Einstein changed his mind about the existence of the aether-- and declared that his "relativity theory" could not exist without it.
It is highly likely that the magnetic field allows a particle to "drill through" the aether without resistance-- as long as the velocity is maintained. If the velocity is changed (+/- acceleration), then there will be a period of resistance to the change in velocity until the magnetic field reaches equilibrium with the surrounding media (the aether).
In this manner, we can explain inertia as an effect of the magnetic field around moving matter (whether observable or not-- it is still there); and (possibly) we might also explain gravity as a secondary effect caused by the electric fields that all particles have-- with rarefaction of the aether caused by matter, and other bodies of matter moving towards the lower energy state of the rarefied aether. ></speculation>
I don't know if my above speculation of the nature and behavior of the aether is correct. What I *do* know, is that there is a Nobel prize waiting for the person that can provably define the aether, and provide mathematical equations that we can use to engineer things that interact in useful ways with the aether.
Oh, and BTW-- there *is* back-emf/back-torque on any Faraday homopolar motor/generator-- it is a silly notion to think that you somehow get "free energy" from a different physical configuration of a simple electromagnetic device. No Faraday homopolar generator (or motor) violates the laws of electromagnetics or physics, and that's a fact. Any claim to the contrary can be assumed to be measurement error. [Yes-- I am aware of DePalma et. al.-- and I think that what they are claiming can be explained by simple measurement error.] If I am wrong about this (and you want me to admit it), then you need to describe a simple table-top experiment that I can perform myself, that proves beyond all reasonable doubt that the laws of electromagnetics are being violated.
If you are looking for "free energy", you would be better off to spend your time experimenting with the zero-point energy field-- and trying to "pump" energy out of that. To me, the most promising area of experimentation would be to follow in the footsteps of Tesla, and explore the field of his "radiant electricity" (aka: "radiant energy").
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"Some scientists claim that hydrogen, because it is so plentiful, is the basic building block of the universe. I dispute that. I say there is more stupidity than hydrogen, and that is the basic building block of the universe." Frank Zappa
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