How to magnetize a concrete wall?

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    Concrete Wall
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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers around the possibility of magnetizing a concrete wall, exploring the implications of applying high voltage to concrete, its properties as an insulator, and the potential effects of embedded materials such as steel. Participants examine both theoretical and practical aspects of the question.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Technical explanation

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants suggest that applying extremely high voltage to concrete could change its properties, potentially allowing it to become a semiconductor and enabling magnetization.
  • Others argue that concrete is fundamentally an insulator and that it cannot conduct electricity under normal circumstances, thus cannot be magnetized.
  • There are claims that even if current could flow through concrete, the magnetic field generated would not persist once the current stops.
  • Some participants mention that concrete often contains aggregates, including metals, which could affect its magnetic properties if present in sufficient quantities.
  • One participant raises the idea that reinforced concrete structures could exhibit different magnetic behaviors due to the presence of steel.
  • There is a discussion about the effects of lightning on concrete, with some asserting that lightning can cause explosive reactions in concrete due to rapid heating, while others question the grounding properties of concrete.
  • Questions are raised about the effects of radiation on concrete and whether it could influence the magnetization of embedded steel.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the feasibility of magnetizing concrete, with some asserting it is impossible while others propose conditions under which it might be possible. The discussion remains unresolved with competing views on the topic.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include the dependence on definitions of insulators and conductors, the assumptions about the conditions required for magnetization, and the unresolved nature of the effects of high voltage and embedded materials.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring the properties of materials in physics, engineering applications involving concrete, and the effects of electrical currents on various substances.

  • #31
Good point but they are each 'radial' to each other. I don't think the field pattern would be optimal.
 
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  • #32
sophiecentaur said:
... you need the current to be at right angles to the steel you want to magnetise.
...

During a lightning strike, it seems no way to let the heavy current pulses flow at right angles to the steel in order to magnetise it, because steel is covered with concrete.
Will the requirement to magnetise steel be different during a lightning strike?
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
  • #33
oem7110 said:
During a lightning strike, it seems no way to let the heavy current pulses flow at right angles to the steel in order to magnetise it, because steel is covered with concrete.

Pretty correct.

But it's possible that the lightning could blow through the concrete, then travel along the internal steel rods into the ground leaving some amount of magnetism.
 
  • #34
James Leighe said:
Pretty correct.

But it's possible that the lightning could blow through the concrete, then travel along the internal steel rods into the ground leaving some amount of magnetism.

What if the heavy current pulses hit the ground, grass, tree, soil whatever, and the current pulses pass through moisted soil connected with the exposed steel under the ground, which can be reached at right angle, would it be look practical for steel to get magnetized in this way? Does anyone know whether the steel within the concrete wall exposed into the soil or not during building the foundation?

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
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  • #35
oem7110 said:
What if the heavy current pulses hit the ground, grass, tree, soil whatever, and pass through moisted soil connected with the exposed steel under the ground, which can be reached at right angle, would it be look practical for steel to get magnetized in real life?

No.

If lighting struck near the steel, but not on it, current would not flow through the steel and there wold be no chance of the steel becoming magnetized.

EDIT: Unless... and now we are getting even more far fetched... The lightning struck a bar of metal near the wall, which in turn would magnetized the steel inside the wall slightly.

Really just having the lighting strike near the wall might induce a tiny field into the steel as well I suppose.

But not a practical / noticeable field.
 
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  • #36
James Leighe said:
No.

If lighting struck near the steel, but not on it, current would not flow through the steel and there wold be no chance of the steel becoming magnetized.

EDIT: Unless... and now we are getting even more far fetched... The lightning struck a bar of metal near the wall, which in turn would magnetized the steel inside the wall slightly.

The soil is wet, which should be a good conductor for a heavy current pulses, isn't it?

Does anyone have any suggestions?
Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
  • #37
I edited my post a bit more.

Lighting striking near the wall (with steel at a right angle to the lighting inside) might magnetize the steel some tiny amount just due to the flow of current through the air itself.

But this is well beyond reasonable.
 
  • #38
And by that I mean that the magnetism would be extremely slight.
 
  • #39
James Leighe said:
I edited my post a bit more.

Lighting striking near the wall (with steel at a right angle to the lighting inside) might magnetize the steel some tiny amount just due to the flow of current through the air itself.

But this is well beyond reasonable.

Do you mean a Lightning rod? which is near the wall or the steel within the concrete wall.

I think there is enough for discussion, and I don't expect anyone knows how lighting moves in air and magnetize the steel in this details, I understand the basic issues that is the most important.

If anyone have any more suggestions, you are welcome.

Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
  • #40
Steel within the wall.

I'm going to suggest again that if you are this interested you should look into how these things work.
A good place to start is that link I gave you.
 
  • #41
oem7110 said:
... Does anyone know whether the steel within the concrete wall exposed into the soil or not during building the foundation?...
Rebar is http://www.wichita.gov/NR/rdonlyres/D0D3A2EB-8BC7-49F9-83E3-ED41954AFBCE/0/rebarground.pdf nowadays.
oem7110 said:
Does anyone have any suggestions?
Suggestions for what? I don't understand what you are trying to do. You seem intent on finding something confirming concrete can be magnetized by electricity going through it. It can't. Concrete isn't a conductor, except for the water it contains. And simple conducting doesn't magnetize permanently anyway.
 
  • #42
I think there is enough for discussion, and I don't expect anyone knows how lighting moves in air and magnetize the steel in this details, I understand the basic issues that is the most important.

It's not complicated, but at this point I'm just going to direct you to that link I gave you.

I don't think I want to explain every aspect of electricity and magnetism when you could do a little of the work yourself!

This forum is best used alongside personal research IMO.
 
  • #43
I can't believe this post went to 3 pages. His question was answered like 20 times but he kept repeating it. YOU CAN'T MAGNETIZE CONCRETE. PERIOD.

By the way the video you linked to that shows someone magnetizing metallic items is deceptive. All the items that were magnetized in that video are made of iron.

He also asked a ridiculous question about water clusters that was answered like 20 times. This guy is a troll or a crackpot.
 
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  • #44
Dr_Morbius said:
By the way the video you linked to that shows someone magnetizing metallic items is deceptive. All the items that were magnetized in that video are made of iron.
...

Could you please explain little bit more why this video is deceptive on magnetizing metallic items in term of physics point of views rather than your personal opinion?

Thanks everyone very much for any suggestions
 
  • #45
Umm, he said why in his post.

All in all this thread was pfunny, I'll never think of concrete the same way again.
 
  • #46
  • #47
Hey guys how can I magnetize my cat!?
 
  • #48
Maybe if your cat is reinforced with steel!
 
  • #49
oem7110, you clearly have an idea of what you want to do with this. Rather than us trying to guess what you want doing and you having to keep asking virtually the same question in a dozen different ways, why don't you skip ahead a bit. Tell us what you really want to do and we can help you with that.
 
  • #50
He's definitely a troll.
 
  • #51
Not so much trolling; he hasn't actually made anyone cry yet. But attention-seeking, perhaps, in an unimaginative way.
 

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