If magnetic feilds were visible to the eye would would this make a difference? In anyway.

Question: If magnetic feilds were visible to the eye would would this make a difference? In anyway.
- Keywords:
  difference,
  eye,
  magnetic field,
  visible
Asked by tomasforzani to Fiona on 25 Jun 2013.
- Fiona Coomer answered on 25 Jun 2013:
  
  I think it would be very confusing if magnetic fields were visible to the eye. If you think of all the information that we already take in through our eyes, without us being able to see magnetic fields everywhere too. Wherever we were we’d be able to see the earth’s magnetic field as well as the magnetic fields arising from the objects around us. By using a small compass, we can actually see magnetic fields pretty easily, and we can measure magnetic properties very well, using instruments called magnetometers.

Jack commented on 25 Jun 2013:

I think it’s interesting to note that some birds (and some other animals) can sense magnetic fields, but that birds literally do see them — the strength of the magnetic field causes a change in the energy levels of a certain molecule in the eye. Have a look at http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/07/08/robins-can-literally-see-magnetic-fields-but-only-if-their-vision-is-sharp/ for some simulated pictures and a detailed explanation.

Pretty cool, I think!

Log in to Reply

Question: If magnetic feilds were visible to the eye would would this make a difference? In anyway.