• Question: what force do you find most fascinating?

    Asked by Katerina to Steven on 18 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Steven Thomson

      Steven Thomson answered on 18 Jun 2015:


      There are only four fundamental forces (gravity, electromagnetic and the strong and weak nuclear forces), so out of the four I’d have to say electromagnetism.

      Electromagnetism gives us light, electricity, heat, metals, mirrors, superconductors, superfluids, lasers…it’s the reason glass is transparent and metals are shiny, it’s the reason the sky is blue and it’s the force responsible for most things you see and use on a daily basis.

      It’s a little under-appreciated, really – people like to talk about the mysteries of gravity or the weirdness of the nuclear forces, but humble old electromagnetism deserves some recognition for doing so many different amazing things!

Comments