Question

I am currently learning university-level electromagnetism and have a problem arranging that with pre-existing school-knowledge. Unfortunately, the books I looked into so far simply introduce the electric and magnetic fields without any regard to how it is taught in high school...

I find the subject quite confusing and would be thankful for some clarifications on the matter:

We are taught that the electromagnetic force is one fundamental force -> what and why is this split between electic and magnetic forces?
The electric field acts on charged particles (+ or -), -> the magnetic field acts on dipoles? Do I need to categorically split materials into electric ones and magnetic ones?
From a book: All static magnetic fields are produced by moving electric charge. -> then how do I understand ordinary magents that are not connected to any power source?
The force of a magnetic field on a charged particle (I assume something like an electron) is dependent on the speed of said particle. -> Then what is the force between two non-moving magnets?, and on what exactly is it acting?

Answer 1

The electromagnetic force is a unification of the electric and magnetic forces. The electric field acts on charged particles, while the magnetic field acts on moving charges or changing electric fields. Ordinary magnets have moving charges within them, which generate a magnetic field.

Step-by-step explanation:

The electromagnetic force is considered one fundamental force because it's the unification of the electric and magnetic forces. These forces were thought of as separate in the past, but they are now viewed as different manifestations of the same force known as the electromagnetic force.

The electric field acts on charged particles, both positive and negative, while the magnetic field acts on moving charges or changing electric fields.

Materials can have both electric and magnetic properties, so it's not necessary to categorically split materials into electric or magnetic ones. Some materials may have a stronger electric response, while others may have a stronger magnetic response.

Ordinary magnets are not connected to a power source, but they have moving charges within them. The movement of these charges generates a magnetic field, resulting in the magnet's magnetism.

The force between two non-moving magnets is due to the interaction of their magnetic fields. Like poles repel each other, and unlike poles attract each other.