No, you cannot get magnets to stably orbit around each other, even in space.
Why Magnets Can't Stably Orbit
The primary reason magnets cannot stably orbit each other lies in their magnetic field characteristics. Magnets are dipoles, meaning they have two poles (north and south). This dipolar nature results in a magnetic field that diminishes rapidly with distance. Specifically, the magnetic field strength decreases proportionally to the inverse cube of the distance (1/r³). This rapid falloff means that the attractive or repulsive forces between the magnets become significantly weaker as they move further apart.
Because of this, any attempt to create an orbit will be inherently unstable. If one magnet deviates slightly from its intended orbital path, the rapidly weakening magnetic forces will not be sufficient to correct its trajectory. Instead, the magnets will either collide or drift apart. This is unlike gravitational orbits, where the force decreases as 1/r², allowing for stable elliptical paths.
Analogy to Gravity
It's tempting to draw an analogy between magnetic attraction and gravitational attraction, as both are forces that can attract objects. However, there's a crucial difference in how these forces behave with distance. Gravity follows an inverse square law (1/r²), while magnetism follows an inverse cube law (1/r³). The slower rate of decrease in gravitational force allows for stable orbits. This is why planets can orbit stars and moons can orbit planets. The stronger, longer-range gravitational forces keep the objects in predictable and stable paths.
The Dipole Problem
The dipole nature of magnets is also significant. Gravity is a monopole force (mass), meaning it only has one "pole." This simplifies the interaction and allows for simpler, more stable orbits. Magnetism, as a dipole force, introduces complexities due to the interaction of both north and south poles, making stable orbital configurations extremely difficult, if not impossible, to achieve in practice.
Conclusion
The inverse cube law of magnetic force and the dipole nature of magnets make stable orbiting impossible. While magnetic forces can cause movement and attraction, they lack the necessary characteristics to sustain stable orbital motion between magnets.
