Undergrad Magnets, Outer space, and Rings

[James William Hall]

Awhile back there was a discussion about the following scenario: an astronaut sets free into space outside his window a round magnet so it just sits there a distance away ensuring the spaceship has no effect on the experiment. Then he wafts out gently a large pail of tiny iron filings and dust in the direction of the magnet and watches to see if a ring (ala Saturn) forms around the magnet at just the right distance from it. I believe the consensus was that no ring would form and that some filings would drift away and the rest cling to the magnet though there were dissenters. But I can’t remember if a different outcome, a ring, would form if the magnet was spinning or any other scenario where the ring would form. For instance if there were two magnet balls separated a short distance from one another or if they were bar magnets. So, the question is: is there any scenario where the ring would form?

 

[Baluncore]

So, the question is: is there any scenario where the ring would form?

Any situation that supports circulation of particles, like in an orbit, must develop a ring system. That is the only topology that can avoid dynamic interactions and collisions, that is, once it has stabilised.

 

[berkeman]

Awhile back there was a discussion about the following scenario:

Looks like you were the one who started that previous thread as well:

https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/making-rings-on-the-iss.1006514/

 

[James William Hall]

Berkeman, thank you for the thread.