Attraction and Repulsion: The Magic of Magnets
MIT's freshman advising seminar traces magnetism from ancient Chinese and Greek observations through its use in navigation during the Age of Exploration, the rise of the 19th century electrical industry, and modern applications in data storage, speakers, television screens, motors, and magnetic levitation trains. Students visit MIT labs working with magnets, including superconducting electromagnet projects, and read about the history, folklore, pseudoscience, and legitimate science behind magnetic phenomena, including medical uses. Coursework consists of several short written reports and at least one oral presentation per participant, with class time built around discussion rather than lectures. Materials are available through MIT OpenCourseWare at no cost, with no certificate offered. The course suits curious beginners more than students seeking rigorous derivations, since it is designed as an introductory seminar for first-year students rather than a technical physics course.