Electricity vs. Magnetism — What's the Difference?

Measured in amperes, volts, and watts.

Arises from the movement of electric charges.

A form of energy resulting from the flow of electrons.

A force that causes attraction or repulsion between objects.

Can be generated from various sources.

Utilized in data storage and retrieval.

Essential for modern life, powering technology and infrastructure.

Can be manipulated to create electromagnets.

Powers electrical devices through the movement of charge.

Integral to the function of electric motors and generators.

Electricity is the set of physical phenomena associated with the presence and motion of matter that has a property of electric charge. Electricity is related to magnetism, both being part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism, as described by Maxwell's equations.

Magnetism is a class of physical attributes that are mediated by magnetic fields. Electric currents and the magnetic moments of elementary particles give rise to a magnetic field, which acts on other currents and magnetic moments.

The physical phenomena arising from the behavior of electrons and protons that is caused by the attraction of particles with opposite charges and the repulsion of particles with the same charge.

The class of phenomena exhibited by a magnetic field.

The physical science of such phenomena.

The study of magnets and their effects.

Electric current used or regarded as a source of power.

The force exerted by a magnetic field.

Intense, contagious emotional excitement.

Unusual power to attract, fascinate, or influence

Originally, a property of amber and certain other nonconducting substances to attract lightweight material when rubbed, or the cause of this property; now understood to be a phenomenon caused by the distribution and movement of charged subatomic particles and their interaction with the electromagnetic field.

Animal magnetism.

(physics) The study of electrical phenomena; the branch of science dealing with such phenomena.

(physics) The property of being magnetic.

A feeling of excitement; a thrill.

(physics) The science which treats of magnetic phenomena.

Electric power/energy as used in homes etc., supplied by power stations or generators.

Power of attraction; power to excite the feelings and to gain the affections.

A property of certain of the fundamental particles of which matter is composed, called also electric charge, and being of two types, designated positive and negative; the property of electric charge on a particle or physical body creates a force field which affects other particles or bodies possessing electric charge; positive charges create a repulsive force between them, and negative charges also create a repulsive force. A positively charged body and a negatively charged body will create an attractive force between them. The unit of electrical charge is the coulomb, and the intensity of the force field at any point is measured in volts.

Animal magnetism.

Any of several phenomena associated with the accumulation or movement of electrically charged particles within material bodies, classified as static electricity and electric current. Static electricity is often observed in everyday life, when it causes certain materials to cling together; when sufficient static charge is accumulated, an electric current may pass through the air between two charged bodies, and is observed as a visible spark; when the spark passes from a human body to another object it may be felt as a mild to strong painful sensation. Electricity in the form of electric current is put to many practical uses in electrical and electronic devices. Lightning is also known to be a form of electric current passing between clouds and the ground, or between two clouds. Electric currents may produce heat, light, concussion, and often chemical changes when passed between objects or through any imperfectly conducting substance or space. Accumulation of electrical charge or generation of a voltage differnce between two parts of a complex object may be caused by any of a variety of disturbances of molecular equilibrium, whether from a chemical, physical, or mechanical, cause. Electric current in metals and most other solid coductors is carried by the movement of electrons from one part of the metal to another. In ionic solutions and in semiconductors, other types of movement of charged particles may be responsible for the observed electrical current.

The property, quality, or state, of being magnetic; the manifestation of the force in nature which is seen in a magnet. At one time it was believed to be separate from the electrical force, but it is now known to be intimately associated with electricity, as part of the phenomenon of electromagnetism.

The science which studies the phenomena and laws of electricity; electrical science.

The science which treats of magnetic phenomena.

Fig.: excitement, anticipation, or emotional tension, usually caused by the occurrence or expectation of something unusual or important.

Power of attraction; power to excite the feelings and to gain the affections.

A physical phenomenon associated with stationary or moving electrons and protons

Attraction for iron; associated with electric currents as well as magnets; characterized by fields of force

Energy made available by the flow of electric charge through a conductor;

The branch of science that studies magnetism

Keen and shared excitement;

They interact in devices like electric motors, which convert electrical energy into mechanical motion using magnetic fields.

Electricity is the energy from moving electric charges, while magnetism is the force from moving charges that creates attraction or repulsion.

Electricity is measured in amperes (current), volts (voltage), and watts (power), while magnetic field strength is measured in teslas or gauss.

Yes, in devices like hard drives, information is stored in the form of magnetic patterns.

Through electromagnetic induction, where a changing magnetic field within a coil of wire induces an electric current.

Permanent magnets maintain a constant magnetic field without electricity, while electromagnets require an electric current to generate a magnetic field.

No, magnetism inherently involves the movement of electric charges, thus requiring electricity.

Magnetism is crucial in MRI machines, where strong magnetic fields are used to produce detailed images of the body.

Depending on the source, generating electricity can have various environmental impacts, including pollution from fossil fuels and habitat disruption from dams.

Materials become magnetic when the spins of their electrons align in a unified direction, creating a magnetic field.

It has led to the development of essential technologies, including power generation systems, electric motors, and electronic devices.

Lightning is a form of electricity, caused by the discharge of static electric charge in the atmosphere.

Yes, geomagnetic storms caused by solar activity can disrupt electrical power grids and communication systems.

Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electricity through the photoelectric effect.

AC is used for power transmission due to its ability to be easily transformed to higher or lower voltages, reducing energy loss over long distances.