Working together with the forces of nature, man has been able to accomplish much. Since the early days when man first walked the earth, man has learned to use the power of the sun to his advantage. In addition to providing light and heat, the sun is just now beginning to be seen as a significant source of energy. Whether it is solar power, geothermal power, wind power, magnetic power or any other potential sources of energy, scientists have made great strides in understanding and unlocking these powerful forces. Most recently, scientists have discovered the incredibly powerful force generated by rare earth, neodymium magnets.
In No Particular Order, following are some of nature’s greatest forces.
1. The Sun – The sun, despite being 93 million miles from our planet, is vital for life to exist on earth. It provides the heat that we need to make our planet suitable for life. Humans, animals and plant life would be impossible were it not for the light, heat and energy it produces
2. The Moon – The moon has a gravitational effect on the tides. Since almost ¾ of the world are covered with water, such forces can cause shifts in our coastal lands through erosion and have an effect on living populations in and outside of the sea.
3. Wind – Wind can be harnessed to produce electrical energy. It can also be a very deadly force when part of a hurricane, tornado or significant storm.
4. Natural Gas – Another naturally occurring, clean burning source of energy, natural gas, has many practical applications including heating a home in the winter and cooking all year round. There are huge supplies of natural gas that can be an important part of our overall energy strategy for hundreds of years to come.
5. Neodymium Magnets – Discovered in the 1970s, these extremely powerful magnets are part of a family of natural rare earth magnets. They are made up of an alloy of neodymium, iron and boron. They have a much stronger magnetic field than ferrite or alnico magnets and can be miniaturized for application in a number of important industrial applications. Some typical uses are in computer hard drives, in cordless power tools and in self-powered flashlights that you shake to generate power. Other applications are in linear motors used by high-speed Mag-lev trains and anywhere super-strong holding power is desired. Because of the strong polar attraction, these magnets can be dangerous and even cause broken bones if one’s fingers are accidentally caught between two larger such magnets.
These are just a few of the important forces of nature that man has learned to harness for his benefit. The more we learn about and take advantage of these forces, the brighter our future will be. As we develop new types of alternate energy resources we can reduce our carbon footprint and dependence on foreign oil and other non-renewable energy sources. Whether it is neodymium magnets or something entirely new, scientists will continue to explore the earth and hopefully make further advancements in how we generate and use energy.
5 of Nature’s Most Powerful Forces