Magnet Facts

If you’ve ever traveled to the UK, you may have noticed some differences in the currency. Obviously, it looks different and it’s called something else (what we call cents, the British call pence or simply “p”). But there are more contrasts at work. British coins are magnetic while American coins aren’t. If you’re like us here at Apex, this is certainly an interesting fact. Continue reading →

Origin stories were popular in numerous ancient cultures and it seems like every aspect of human life has a legend associated with it. This is particularly true of the ancient Greeks. Pandora’s Box explains how evil came into the world. Your voice’s echo is really just a mountain nymph responding to you. Even the passing of the seasons is tied up with the story of Demeter and her daughter Persephone. Magnets are no different. While the story might not be the most well-known of the Greek legends, the tale of Magnes the Shepherd is one of the earliest accounts of magnetism. Continue reading →

Part 2: Speakers and Amps In Part 1 of this post we discussed how magnets are used in guitar pickups to bring the sounds of rock alive. In part 2 we’re going to talk about how magnets are involved in the other end of the experience: hearing the music. Whether you’re listening to live rock or jamming out to your favorite album at home, magnets are involved. Amplifiers and speakers use magnets to catch vibrations by musical tones. These sounds are then magnified, allowing you to rock out. But how does it really work? Continue reading →

With summer in full swing, you probably have a few beach trips planned. Whether you’re a swimmer, surfer, or snorkeler, the threat of sharks may have crossed your mind at some point while exploring the ocean. Most of the time sharks are not nearly as bloodthirsty as the monster from Jaws, but if you’re worried, here are a few fun facts about sharks and magnets to keep in mind: Continue reading →

We often take the everyday words we use for granted. Where do they come from? How were they formed? When was the first time they were used? These are questions the study of etymology strives to answer. The subject of this blog post is the etymology of the word “magnet” and its derivations (magnetism, magnetize, magnetization). Continue reading →

Part 1 - Guitar Pickups If you play electric guitar or bass, chances are you already know what pickups are. It’s also likely that you have some pretty strong opinions on them. For those of you who don’t play, pickups are the devices that essentially make an electric guitar, well, electric. Pickups are super sensitive magnets installed in the body of the guitar and wrapped in copper wire. Continue reading →

Most of us know at least one way to tell direction. Whether it’s tracking the sun’s position in the sky, locating the North Star at night, or maybe even noting what side of the tree moss is growing on. Maybe you still know how to use a compass. With the advent of GPS systems and apps, it seems like people are less and less able to tell where they’re going without the aid of technology. But what if your phone were dead and you were left without a compass? What if it’s too cloudy to see the sun or stars and there are no trees around? Could you tell which way you were heading? According to some scientists, you certainly could. New research suggests that human beings have the ability to detect magnetic fields given off by the earth and other sources. Continue reading →

For generations, animals of all kinds have baffled scientists with their ability to navigate and migrate, never losing their way even when flying over vast plains or swimming through the deep dark sea. While we humans need to rely on the sun and stars (and more recently, our phones’ GPS), the animal kingdom has a better solution. It’s called magnetoreception, and it allows them to use the earth’s magnetic field to get where they need to go! Continue reading →

Pretty much everything would make a cool magnet, but it might be impractical to magnetize everything you own. So, instead of trying to magnetize your furniture or your shoes, here are a few items you could find around your home and turn into cool fridge magnets: Continue reading →

Pool, also called billiards, was first invented sometime in the 15th century. It traces back to Northern Europe, and is believed to originate in France. It’s believed that the game first started out with the balls being shoved versus the modern way we know, which is by striking the ball. Fast forward to present day, where pool is being played in bars across the country daily. You may not think about it after throwing back a couple drinks, but do you know how the cue ball magically gets dispensed after you scratch when using a coin operated table? Well, it’s not magic, and it actually can be one of two ways, one using magnetism! Continue reading →