Magnetic force lost when you break a magnet?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the effects of breaking a magnet, specifically neodymium magnets, on their magnetic force. Participants explore how the force might change when a magnet is divided into smaller pieces, considering both theoretical and practical implications.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory, Technical explanation, Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that breaking a magnet that pulls 40 lbs into two equal parts would result in each part pulling 20 lbs.
  • Another participant argues that the outcome depends on how the magnet is broken, indicating that breaking it along certain lines could yield different force results.
  • A different viewpoint raises uncertainty about whether modern magnets would behave like traditional steel magnets when fractured, suggesting that the reaction might differ due to their sophisticated structure.
  • One participant proposes that breaking the magnet could potentially increase the effective force due to the ability to position smaller magnets closer to a surface.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express differing views on how breaking a magnet affects its force, with no consensus reached on the exact outcomes or methods of breaking.

Contextual Notes

There are assumptions regarding the method of breaking the magnet and the nature of the materials involved, which are not fully explored or defined in the discussion.

Who May Find This Useful

Individuals interested in magnetism, materials science, or practical applications of magnets may find this discussion relevant.

Cemelion
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if you have a magnet that pulls 40lbs of force if you broke that into 2 how much force will each magnet pull.

i have some neodymium magnets from hardrives and i want to break them up but i want to know if that's gunna make them lose a lot of force. anyone know the formula for calculating such a thing? or better yet just plane old english will work lol. thanks
 
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if you break it in two equal parts they will pull 20 lbs every one
 
It depends how you break them. If you bereak them like this |S_________|__________N|,
you will get two magnets with the same 40 pounds. Breaking then along the length, would give two magnets of 20 pounds. For a given magnetization, the force is proportional to the area of the (N or S ) end of the magnet.
 
I'm not at all sure that breaking a modern magnet in half will give you something like 50:50.

I would guess that's true of an old steel magnet but modern crystalline high-power magnets are much more sophisticated and might react badly to being fractured.

Anyway, it would be interesting to find out.
 
Maybe you will gain some force, since 2 magnets can be placed closer to the surface than 1 big magnet. Why don't you try it out and tell us the result?
 

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