Can stacking multiple magnets increase their magnetic field strength?

[dmlerner]

Can two magnets produce a magnetic field strong than the simple vector sum of their individual fields when near each other?

The backstory:
I purchased some crazy 1/2" Neodymium (alloy) magnets off ebay. The ad claimed 6.1 lbs/ea ideal maximum pull force. Naturally skeptical, I took out our (never used) lifting-weights and went to tinkering. With one, I got just shy of the stated value, but with six, I got 8.5 lbs each. I'm thinking that their just stronger than advertised, and that having only one magnet caused a weaker apparent force because the magnet was not centered due to the design of my weights and the torques were imbalanced.

Anyone with twenty bucks to waste on something cool, seriously go pick up a set. They're absolutely incredible.

 

[ws0619]

Thanks for sharing!

 

[astrokreng]

I would say that stacking multiple magnets can potentially increase their magnetic field strength, but it is not a guaranteed result. The strength of a magnetic field is determined by the magnetic moment of the individual magnets, which is a property of the material and the size of the magnet. When magnets are stacked, their magnetic fields can combine and reinforce each other, resulting in a stronger overall field. However, this effect is not always linear and can be affected by factors such as the shape and orientation of the magnets. Additionally, the strength of the magnetic field also depends on the distance between the magnets, with the field weakening as the distance increases. Therefore, while it is possible for two magnets to produce a stronger magnetic field when near each other, it is not a guarantee. The results observed in the experiment described may be due to other factors such as the design of the weights and the positioning of the magnets. Further experimentation and analysis would be needed to confirm the true strength of these magnets.