Behavior of a cylindrical magnet

[overlook1977]

I noticed when I stick a cylindrical magnet on a smooth metal surface (longways) and roll the magnet along the surface, it does not roll smoothly. Instead, it seems to resist movment, then 'pop' forward into another position. It is almost as if the magnet has a preference on which side sticks to the surface. Anyone have any ideas about this?

 

[Astronuc]

The magnetic field or (orientation/distribution of domains in the cylindrical magnet) are not uniform, and therefore there is a preferred orientation, and that would interfere with the 'smooth' motion.

 

[astrokreng]

Thank you for sharing your observation about the behavior of a cylindrical magnet. This phenomenon can be explained by the magnetic field and magnetic poles of the magnet.

A cylindrical magnet has two poles, a north pole and a south pole, which are located at opposite ends of the cylinder. When the magnet is placed on a smooth metal surface, its magnetic field interacts with the magnetic field of the surface. This interaction creates a force that causes the magnet to stick to the surface.

As you roll the magnet along the surface, the magnetic fields of the magnet and the surface are constantly interacting and adjusting to each other. This can cause the magnet to resist movement and then suddenly "pop" into another position when the magnetic fields align in a certain way.

Additionally, the shape of the magnet can also play a role in its behavior. The cylindrical shape may cause the magnet to have a preference for sticking to the surface in a certain orientation, which could explain why it may resist movement in one direction and "pop" into another position.

In conclusion, the behavior of a cylindrical magnet on a smooth metal surface can be attributed to the interaction of magnetic fields and the shape of the magnet. Further experimentation and analysis can help to better understand this phenomenon.