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Perry
The 'attraction of opposite poles' is the characteristic feature of magnetism. As most engineers and physicists will tell you: "Magnetism does no work." Magnetism is a force but not a source (of energy) -- which is required for 'work' to happen. Magnets exert a force on certain metals (that have electrons in their outer orbits) but do not generate energy (such as electricity) from this force.
Now, and electric generator does use magnets (to control the electric currents being generated), but the 'new' energy comes form some other energy (or work-performing) power source that one must somehow harness (like heat or solar energy, or wind, waves, etc.).
It is true that two magnets with their similar poles (positive ends) facing each other -- will 'push off' of each other (if the magnets are of equal strength, they will push off equally). This is due to the force(s) exerted by 'competing' (similar) magnetic fields.
Now, the experiment you describe (sunlight on silver => discharge of electricity, in quantity) in brief seems akin to the photo-electric effect but I would need more details.
Also: the energy coming form the sun that hits the earth is a combination of photons (quanta of light), and, ions (from solar plasma) and radiative decay particles (most of which are blocked by the atmosphere, otherwise, we would all be dying form radiation poisoning).
The phenomena of reflection, refraction and diffraction are all light (photon-based) phenomena, not electron-based phenomena. Now, bombarding a metal surface (such as silver) with energetic photons will produced a corresponding emission of electrons (an electric current) from the other surface/side of the metal plate/sheet. This is the 'photo-electric' effect I mentioned before. It was described in detail by Albert Einstein in his 1905 paper on special relativity and for which he coined the term 'photon' to describe a quantum of light -- a physical particle that 'bumps' into other atoms -- of an electropositive metal element (like silver) -- and 'knocks free' their electrons. But the input of energy (the photons) does not produce more energy output (electrons) than the total inputed (photon) energy. To learn more about this effect (and its three forms), visit: https://www.explainthatstuff.com/how-photoelectric-cells-work.html
There are currently high-energy (and enormously expensive) experiments underway with plasma generation and acceleration (in massive and complex machines called 'tokomaks' and 'stellerators') to produce greater energy output than input...but so far, these have not succeeded in achieving this goal (though it's theoretically possible due to specific quantum effects/interactions). This is the 'holy grail' of energy production science.
It is true that the electrons in the magnetic field are spinning (usually, all in the same 'direction', or possess the same angular momentum, as with ferromagnetism). Again, this collective activity (electron spins) produces a force, but not a source, of energy. Thus, it cannot do 'work'.
God bless you