Where Are the Poles of a Flat Refrigerator Magnet?

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    Magnet Refrigerator
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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the magnetic properties of flat refrigerator magnets, specifically the location of their north and south poles. Participants explore the arrangement of magnetic domains and how they affect the magnet's behavior when interacting with a standard bar magnet.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • One participant notes that a bar magnet does not seem to be repelled by any part of the flat refrigerator magnet, raising questions about the location of its poles.
  • Another participant suggests that the refrigerator magnet may have alternating north and south magnetic domains across its surface, likening it to a checkerboard pattern of small bar magnets.
  • A further contribution agrees with the idea of alternating poles but clarifies that all poles are on the same side of the magnet, similar to horseshoe magnets, which makes only one side "sticky."
  • Some participants express curiosity about the implications of these magnetic properties, particularly in relation to a 'worm gear' mechanism mentioned in an external link.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

There is no clear consensus on the exact arrangement of the magnetic poles in flat refrigerator magnets, as participants propose different models and interpretations of the magnetic domain structure.

Contextual Notes

Participants discuss the magnetic behavior without resolving the underlying assumptions about the nature of the magnetic domains or the specifics of the magnet's construction.

Who May Find This Useful

This discussion may be of interest to those exploring magnetism, material science, or practical applications of magnetic properties in everyday objects.

overlook1977
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I have a flat rectangular refrigerator magnet. I was curious to where the N S poles were, so I took a standard bar magnet to it to find them. Curiously, the bar magnet does not seem to be repelled at any place of the refrig magnet. Where would the poles be on a flat, bendable refrig magnet?
 
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This is no expert response; I don't actually know the answer. Having worked with the stupid things, however, I have a suspicion.
I used to make fridge magnets, screen-printing a design and then cutting out the shape. When stacking them for packaging, they like to slide around on each other just a bit and then settle down. That leads me to think that north and south domains alternate across the surface, quite close together, as if you had hundreds of bar magnets standing on end in a checkerboard pattern.
 
Danger said:
That leads me to think that north and south domains alternate across the surface, quite close together, as if you had hundreds of bar magnets standing on end in a checkerboard pattern.
You have the right idea, almost. The poles are all on the same side, like alternating horseshoe magnets--very clever, making only one side "sticky". Check this out: http://mrsec.wisc.edu/Edetc/background/fridgemag/index.html"
 
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Wow... that's even weirder than I thought. I kinda like that 'worm gear' thing that the guy made, but I can't imagine it transferring much more torque than is needed to just turn the 'pinion'.
 
Neat, wonder if I can find enough such fridge magnets to try that gear thing..
 
Danger said:
Wow... that's even weirder than I thought. I kinda like that 'worm gear' thing that the guy made, but I can't imagine it transferring much more torque than is needed to just turn the 'pinion'.

Please provide a Link?
 
KingNothing said:
Please provide a Link?

It's in Doc's link. Just scroll down a bit.
 

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