If you’ve even the remotest interest in science, then you might be familiar with the terms electricity and magnetism.Indeed, the device you’re reading this on probably wouldn’t be possible without such technologies (even if you’re reading it on a printed page, the chances are overwhelming that electromagnetism was involved in transporting, processing and selling it).The truth is that electromagnetism was discovered over the course of around a century, by a series of men who built upon one another’s discoveries.It’s an example of the international scientific community working at its best.

Ørsted

The first electromagnet, like many of the most seismic scientific theories, was created quite accidentally.A Dane named Hans Christian Ørsted found that, as he was preparing for a lecture, the needle of a compass he was using moved when a nearby current from a battery was switched on and off.He surmised, correctly, that magnetic force radiated outward from a current-carrying wire in the same way that light and heat might do from their respective sources.

Though he had identified a peculiar phenomenon, however, Hans couldn’t come up with an explanation for it.He could, however, create the very first electromagnets by wrapping a coil of wire around an iron core.Though insulated wiring wasn’t available at the time, this problem was overcome by coating the iron block in a thick layer of varnish.Today, the standard unit of measurement of magnetic induction, the oersted, is named after this early pioneer.

Faraday

Shortly after Ørsted’s discovery, a British scientist named Michael Faraday attempted, alongside his collaborator William Hyde Wollaston and former mentor Humphry Davy, to develop an electric motor.He went on to build two devices which did successfully translate electrical current into rotation, albeit by entirely different means.Faraday published his findings without acknowledging the involvement of the other two men, and thus attracted considerable criticism, and stunted his progress in the field of electromagnetism for years.

Over the coming years, Faraday pursued several dead ends.He tried to see if a current in one wire could directly induce a current in another adjacent wire, without success.His next breakthrough resulted from wrapping two insulated coils around either side of an iron ring.By passing a current through one coil, another current was generated in the other coil.It was the beginning of what would later be labelled magnetic induction.

Maxwell

While the relationship between electricity and magnetism was uncontroversial, until the latter portion of the 19th century, the two forces were viewed as wholly distinct from one another.This changed when a Scottish physicist named James Clerk Maxwell released ‘A Treatise on Electricity and Magnetism’ in 1873.Maxwell showed that the interactions of charged particles were, in fact, created by a single force – and illustrated four examples of their interactions, each of which has been demonstrated repeatedly through experiment.

The first of these effects is that opposite charges attract and identical charges repel.This is now a principle so well-established that it’s been buried into the English language.The second of them is that north and south poles are always attached to one another; it’s impossible for a magnet to have just one of them; cut a magnet in half and it’ll become two smaller magnets, each with a north and a south pole.The third is that a current in a wire will create a field outside the wire, whose polarity is dependent on the direction of the current, and the fourth is that current is induced in a wire by a magnet moving nearby.

Where are electromagnets now used?

Fast-forward a century, and we find that modern electromagnets are used in a range of applications.From MRI scanners at your local hospital, to the starter motors in your car’s engine, to the speakers on your home cinema setup or mobile phone, your life as it is now would be simply impossible without the use of electromagnets.Inductors are also widespread, most notably in the alternators which your car uses to charge its batteries.An alternator is a form of inductor which translates the motion of your car’s engine into electric current which can be used to charge the vehicle’s battery.That way, you won’t run out of juice when you next come to start your car.That said, a battery can still go flat if it’s left idle for long enough, so be sure to equip your vehicle with a suitable set of jumper cables.You’ll find BMW, Ford and Audi alternators available online, from specialist retailers.

If you’re looking for a means of getting fit, then running is among the best.It requires very little in the way of initial investment, and can be performed on almost any flat surface.It can be as low or high intensity as you like, and you’ll be able to get started with it however old, young, fat or thin you are – even if you have to start by walking and then integrate gradually longer bouts of light jogging into your workout.

If you’re running with a partner, then so much the better.Things will go a great deal more quickly if you’ve got someone there to spur you on to the next level.If your partner is your dog, then so much the better; exercising your dog is an essential duty of ownership, and if you’re able to fit your exercise in at the same time, then so much the better.

If you’re going to get the best from running with your dog, then you’ll need to go about it in the right way.In this article, let’s take a look at what the right way might consist of.

Consider your dog’s suitability

Before getting started, you’ll want to consider whether your dog is a natural runner.Some breeds, notably hunting dogs and terriers, have bundles of energy and will outpace you over long and short distances.A greyhound is an expert sprinter, but won’t be able to keep up the pace over longer distances.A bloodhound or a beagle is built for stamina, and is a great companion for marathon training.

Some breed of dog, however, are not really suited for running at all.These are generally the breeds with especially small frames and short legs.They’ll need to take several dozen strides for every one of yours, and will tire very quickly.Chihuahuas and pugs would fit into this category.Massive breeds like Great Danes and St Bernards, on the other hand, aren’t suited to running – they might be able to keep up, but doing so will place them at even greater risk of developing debilitating diseases like hip dysplasia and osteoarthritis.

If your dog is a little bit older, or seems to be struggling when you first take them out, then take them for an examination by a veterinarian before proceeding.They’ll be able to identify any reasons for alarm, and provide you with advice about how to proceed.Your dog might require a slightly different diet in order to cope with the increased exercise, too – and a qualified vet is a great person to help identify these issues.

Wait until the dog is full grown

When exercising puppies, it’s worth being cautious.This is merited even if we’re only talking about moderate forms of exercise, like walking, which will need to be limited.When we’re talking about running this goes doubly.

The reason for this has to do with a puppy’s joints.They’ve yet to fully form, and any prolonged exertion might prevent them from doing so.Once the cartilage around the joints has fully hardened and is no longer as malleable, you’ll be able to get running.This will vary according to the breed of dog, with smaller ones developing their bones more quickly than larger ones.This is another reason to be cautious with larger dogs.

Walk before you can run

If you were to try to run a mile or two after having spent a year doing next to no exercise, then the chances are that you’d struggle.The same rules apply to dogs.Build your pet’s endurance gradually to give yourself the best chance of avoiding injury.If you’re less fit than your dog is, then you won’t need to worry so much – track down a beginner’s running programme and work your way through it.Even if your dog is hardly breaking a sweat, you’ll be giving them a better workout than you would if you were simply walking them.

What gear do I need?

To go running with your dog, you’ll need pretty much the same gear that you would if you were walking it – with the addition of a pair of decent trainers with deep treads that’ll absorb even the muddiest terrain.You’ll also need to protect your car with a car boot liner in order to prevent muddy pawprints and hair from spreading across your interior.You’ll find made-to-measure Ford, BMW, Volvo and Land Rover Boot Liners available online – along with liners to match almost every vehicle widely available!