This equation, there must be something wrong with it.

[Psinter]

This question is out of curiosity. I'm not making anything with magnets, it just called my attention after spending hours clicking link after link in Wikipedia and reading stuff after stuff. I don't even remember how I got here anymore, I was reading electrostatic forces between organic molecules, but everything was connected one way or the other.

Anyway, this equation, it says for Bar magnets. As far as I'm concerned, a bar magnet is not circular or has any geometrical similarities with circles or spheres. It's rectangular.

Then, why does it has an R for radius. Isn't "radius" supposed to be a geometrical exclusive property of circles, spheres and other geometric figures containing one of those two?

I honestly think there must be something wrong with it.

 

[Borek]

it says for Bar magnets

That's what it says in the subtitle, description says something slightly different. Reread it and it should become clear what R means.

 

[TumblingDice]

The Bar Magnet section in the wiki link mentions, "The force between two identical cylindrical bar magnets placed end to end..."

R would be measured (edit: relative to the cross-section) of cylindrical magnet..

 

[Psinter]

I so over-read that part. Case closed then. :)

 

[PJC01]

I can understand your curiosity and confusion about this equation. It is important to always question and critically analyze scientific information. In this case, it seems like there may be a misunderstanding about the use of the term "radius" in this context.

While the term "radius" is commonly associated with circles and spheres, it can also refer to the distance from the center of an object to its edge, regardless of its shape. In the case of a bar magnet, the "radius" refers to the distance from the center of the magnet to its outer edge. This is because the magnetic field of a bar magnet is strongest at its poles, which are located at the edges of the magnet.

So, although a bar magnet may not have a circular or spherical shape, it still has a radius that can be measured and used in equations to describe its properties. This is a common practice in science, where terms may have different meanings or applications in different contexts.

I hope this explanation helps to clarify the use of the term "radius" in this equation and provides a better understanding of the concept. Keep exploring and questioning, as that is the foundation of scientific discovery.