Magnet attached to boat, would it work?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion explores the hypothetical scenario of a boat with a magnet held in front of it, questioning whether this setup would result in the boat being pulled forward or remaining stationary. The conversation touches on concepts of magnetism, force interactions, and analogies to other physical situations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Exploratory

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that a magnet held by someone on the boat would not move the boat forward, as the forces would cancel out, similar to trying to lift a bucket while standing in it.
  • Another participant compares the situation to pulling oneself towards shore with a rope, indicating that the forces involved are analogous to those in the magnet scenario.
  • A different viewpoint proposes that if the magnet were large enough, it could attract the boat, but emphasizes that both would move towards each other without resulting in net movement.
  • One participant suggests using a bathroom scale to demonstrate the forces at play, indicating that pulling on oneself does not result in movement.
  • Another participant questions the necessity of using a boat and magnet specifically, suggesting that other methods of movement could be considered.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on whether the boat would be pulled forward by the magnet. While some argue that the forces would negate any movement, others propose scenarios where movement could occur, but with caveats regarding the nature of the forces involved.

Contextual Notes

The discussion includes various analogies and hypothetical scenarios, but lacks consensus on the mechanics of the proposed setup. The arguments rely on differing interpretations of force interactions and magnetism.

Ungort
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Magnet attached to boat, would it work!?

OK,

if there was a boat with a magnet held in front of it by some sort of arch/crane attached to the boat would the boat be pulled towards the magnet, thus moving the boat forward, or would it just stay still.
______
o [________]

Saying 'o' is the magnet, and [_________] is the boat, just to help explain my point.

Last post got deleted for 'trolling'
Just to point out, not trying to troll, just trying to work out something someone linked to me trying to troll me and it caused me to wonder if it would actually work.

Thankyou for your time :)
 
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Ungort said:
OK,

if there was a boat with a magnet held in front of it by some sort of arch/crane attached to the boat would the boat be pulled towards the magnet, thus moving the boat forward, or would it just stay still.
______
o [________]

Saying 'o' is the magnet, and [_________] is the boat, just to help explain my point.

Last post got deleted for 'trolling'
Just to point out, not trying to troll, just trying to work out something someone linked to me trying to troll me and it caused me to wonder if it would actually work.

Thankyou for your time :)

No, it would not do anything in terms of moving the boat. If somebody on shore held out a magnet and was anchored to the shore, then it could attract the boat and pull it to the magnet's position. But somebody holding the magnet in the boat does nothing.
 


That is physically the exact same thing as trying to lift a bucket off the ground while standing in it. The harder you lift the harder your feet push on the bottom of the bucket. The harder the magnet is pulls on the boat the harder the crane attached to the boat pushes back.
 


OK, as I thought, is there a way of putting it that proves it though!? Because the person I'm trying to dissuade from idiocy still doesn't believe it until it has big words in basically.
 


Tell him to get in his boat, tie a rope to the front of the boat, and pull themselves to shore. Same thing. The rope is held together by the same electromagnetic forces that the magnets use.
 


Why not try it with a bathroom scale?

1. Get on the scale.
2. Read the scale.
3. Bend over and grab your shoelaces.
4. Pull up.
5. Read the scale.
 


You put a little magnet in front of a big steel boat, and the your boat-magnet attracts the boat?

No; a fridge attracts a fridge-magnet,
and a boat attracts a boat -magnet.

Make the magnet as big as the boat and they meet in the middle; make the magnet much bigger than the boat, and the boat goes 9/10 and the magnet goes 1/10 the other way.

But taken altogether, nobody is going nowhere.
 


Ungort said:
if there was a boat with a magnet held in front of it by some sort of arch/crane attached to the boat would the boat be pulled towards the magnet, thus moving the boat forward, or would it just stay still.

The boat WOULD be pulled towards the magnet. Unfortunately, the magnet would also be pulled towards the boat.

Why a boat? Why a magnet?

Why not a car? Or a bike? Or you with a rope?

Tie a rope around yourself and pull it forward with your arms. Get on a bike if wish. I suspect nobody would even try this stunt in front of a mirror out of embarrassment. Yet somehow a magnet and a boat would be any different?
 


I think the thread has run its course.
 

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