The Power of Magnetism: Examining Magnetic Field Uniformity

AI Thread Summary
The discussion centers on the uniformity of magnetic fields produced by magnets, specifically questioning whether the magnetic field strength is equal across the entire surface area of a magnet's pole. It is clarified that the magnetic field is not equally powerful; the poles of a magnet are strongest at the ends, with field lines concentrating there. Fringing effects cause the magnetic field to weaken slightly toward the outer edges of the magnet's face. Diagrams of magnetic fields illustrate this concentration of strength at the poles. Overall, the magnetic field exhibits variations in strength rather than uniformity across the entire surface.
RoscoeSlash
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Is the magnetic field created by a magnet equally powerful across the entire surface area of the pole?
 
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What is the context of your question? What are your thoughts on how to answer this question? Is this for schoolwork?
 
No particular context, just curious. I am not sure about the answer which is why i asked Mr. Berkeman. I believe the magnetic field is equally powerful across the entire surface area of the magnet.
 
RoscoeSlash said:
No particular context, just curious. I am not sure about the answer which is why i asked Mr. Berkeman. I believe the magnetic field is equally powerful across the entire surface area of the magnet.

now you have changed you thoughts ...

in your OP you said the poles, now you are saying the entire magnet

have you seen diagrams of magnetic fields around say a bar magnet ?
where do you see the field lines concentrating ?

Dave
 
Ok, so if i understand you correctly, the poles are always strongest at the ends of the magnet, as seen in mag field diagrams, any explanation for this? Thanks -Roscoe
 
RoscoeSlash said:
Is the magnetic field created by a magnet equally powerful across the entire surface area of the pole?
No. Because of fringing at the end of the magnetic, the magnetic field is slightly weaker toward the outer edges of the face. This is a little like the electric field getting weaker toward the edges of a capacitor.
 
It may be shown from the equations of electromagnetism, by James Clerk Maxwell in the 1860’s, that the speed of light in the vacuum of free space is related to electric permittivity (ϵ) and magnetic permeability (μ) by the equation: c=1/√( μ ϵ ) . This value is a constant for the vacuum of free space and is independent of the motion of the observer. It was this fact, in part, that led Albert Einstein to Special Relativity.

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