Create visible light with spinning magnet?

In summary, using a strong spherical neodymium magnet at a rotation frequency of 100 MHz to build an FM radio transmitter would not be possible due to the high forces that would cause damage to the magnet. Increasing the speed to 430 THz would result in the magnet glowing red, but this experiment has not been done before. The highest rotation frequency without causing damage to the magnet would be significantly lower than 100 MHz.
  • #1
jafeucht
1
0
Let's say you have a strong spherical neodymium magnet (for the purposes of this example, let's give it a 1 cm diameter), and you were to place it on a machine which rapidly rotates the magnet. If you were to rotate it at 100 MHz, could you build an FM radio transmitter? Supposing it were possible, if you were to increase the speed to 430 THz, will the magnet glow red? Has this experiment been done before?

What is the highest rotation frequency without causing damage to the magnet?
 
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  • #2
jafeucht said:
What is the highest rotation frequency without causing damage to the magnet?

Back of the envelope says that the forces at the tips of a 1cm bar magnet spinning 100,000,000 times a second will be about 1012 that of the Earth's gravity. That's far more than is needed to tear any macroscopic object apart.

(Don't take my word for it! You can check my math easily enough, the acceleration experienced by an object moving at speed v along a circular path of radius r is ##\frac{v^2}{r}##)
 
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  • #3
Nugatory said:
Back of the envelope says that the forces at the tips of a 1cm bar magnet spinning 100,000,000 times a second will be about 1012 that of the Earth's gravity. That's far more than is needed to tear any macroscopic object apart.
And that's the reason why we prefer other ways to generate radio waves or light :smile:
 

1. How does a spinning magnet create visible light?

When a magnet spins, it creates a changing magnetic field around it. This changing magnetic field induces an electric current in nearby materials, such as a wire or coil. This electric current then produces electromagnetic radiation, which includes visible light.

2. What type of magnet is needed to create visible light?

Any type of magnet can create visible light as long as it is spinning. However, stronger magnets will produce more visible light due to their stronger magnetic fields.

3. Is it possible to control the color of the visible light produced by a spinning magnet?

Yes, the color of the visible light can be controlled by changing the speed of the spinning magnet. Different speeds will produce different frequencies of electromagnetic radiation, resulting in different colors of visible light.

4. How is a spinning magnet different from a regular magnet in terms of creating visible light?

A spinning magnet creates visible light through electromagnetic induction, while a regular magnet does not. A regular magnet only produces a magnetic field, but a spinning magnet produces a changing magnetic field, which is necessary for the production of visible light.

5. Are there any practical applications for creating visible light with a spinning magnet?

Yes, there are several practical applications for this phenomenon. One example is in generators, where the spinning of magnets is used to produce electricity. Another example is in LED lights, where the spinning of magnets can be used to produce a steady source of visible light. Additionally, this concept is also utilized in various scientific experiments and demonstrations.

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