Why is My Hand Tingling When I Hold Strong Magnets?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the sensations experienced by a participant when holding strong neodymium magnets near an alarm clock/radio. Participants explore potential explanations for the tingling sensation felt in the hand, considering various physical interactions and effects.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that the magnetic force may have transferred onto their hand, affecting the electric energy in the clock/radio.
  • Another participant proposes that the clock/radio operates on AC power, which could influence the sensations felt.
  • A different viewpoint indicates that the magnets might be responding to the magnetic field of the transformer's oscillations, causing vibrations sensed as tingling.
  • Some participants speculate about the interaction between the magnets and the iron in blood, questioning the magnetic properties of blood components.
  • One participant refines the idea about blood, noting that the iron in blood is likely a compound that is not magnetic, referencing the safety of humans in strong magnetic fields like those in MRI machines.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express multiple competing views regarding the cause of the tingling sensation, with no consensus reached on a single explanation.

Contextual Notes

Some assumptions about the nature of the sensations and the properties of materials involved remain unresolved, including the specifics of how magnetic fields interact with biological tissues.

Kakarot
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i got some strong magnets from work which i think are neodymium magnets. well i was messign with them and i held them in my hand and put my hand near my alarm clock/radio and then my hand began to tingle or feel weird when it got close to it. can someone give me an explanation for this :biggrin:
 
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Kakarot said:
i got some strong magnets from work which i think are neodymium magnets. well i was messign with them and i held them in my hand and put my hand near my alarm clock/radio and then my hand began to tingle or feel weird when it got close to it. can someone give me an explanation for this :biggrin:
Maybe the magnetic force jas transferred onto your hand, and is affecting the electric energy in your clock/radio. (I'm no expert, so I may be wrong) :smile:
 
I'm going to guess that the clock/radio runs on AC, that it is plugged into the wall socket, and isn't battery operated. Right?
 
Last edited:
zoobyshoe said:
I'm going to guess that the clock/radio runs on AC, that it is plugged into the wall socket, and isn't battery operated. Right?

this is correct. does the current go thru the air and into my hand/magnet or something lmao
 
I think what is happening is that the magnets are responding to the magnetic field of the transformer in the clock. In other words, they are vibrating at 60 cycles per second in response to the transformer oscillations, and this rapid vibration is senced by your hands as a "tingle".
 
maybe the magnet is interacting with the iron in your blood?
 
gravenewworld said:
maybe the magnet is interacting with the iron in your blood?
I have never actually checked, so I don't know, but I think if you look up and find out what it actually is we call "iron" in blood, is probably a compound of iron, and not one that is magnetic. If it were, you could get a powerful magnet to stick to a person. This just doesn't happen. People all over the world are put into the unbelievably powerful magnetic fields of MRI scanning machines every day and no human flesh has ever stuck to one.
 
zoobyshoe said:
I think what is happening is that the magnets are responding to the magnetic field of the transformer in the clock. In other words, they are vibrating at 60 cycles per second in response to the transformer oscillations, and this rapid vibration is senced by your hands as a "tingle".

hmm yea i think that might be it because i tried it again and i think the magnet is just vibrating really fast lol
 

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