how do magnets attract things like iron from a distance, without using energy?

Question

I’ve read somewhere that magnets dont do work so they dont use energy, but then how come they can move metallic objects? where is that coming from?

In: Physics

Answer 1

ELI5: Replace magnets with a rubber band…. You have to pull it back first, then it snaps back together.

magnets and rubber bands at rest dont have energy, separate them and its potential energy waiting to snap.