Opposing Magnets Query

Discussion in 'Science and Technology' started by All Seeing Eye, Mar 26, 2009.

  1. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    When you place two opposing magnets together obviously they will repel each other and you can feel them repelling. Now let's say you take a couple of Neodymium magnets (really strong ones) and you force them together so they are touching each other (obviously the repelling force will be incredible). Now imagine you lock them together like that with some kind of metal bracing so they are forever locked together in repulsion.

    Now here is the important part, imagine before you locked them together you cut a bit out of each magnet so there was a tunnel or tubular hole running through the centre and you place within this area a coiled wire.

    Would the magnetic fields be continually fluctuating due to magnets being locked together whilst repelling? and would this fluctuation of the magnetic field continually pass back and forth through the coil and thus create electrical current?
     
  2. backstept

    backstept Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2005
    no, there would have to be some sort of movement to push the electrons along

    we all know the 2nd grade experiments of passing a bar magnet through a coil to produce current

    having a static magnet, would do nothing

    this is why generator turbines spin, and conversely how electric motors work
     
  3. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    Yes I know what you mean but what I am saying is would the magnetic field fluctuate and would it's fluctuation cause the magnetic field to pass through the coiled wire thus creating electrical current.

    I know Electricity is created by magnets being physically moved so their magnetic fields pass through the coiled wire but what I am asking is would forcing two opposing magnets together and locking them in that repulsion cause the magnetic field (and not the magnet) to fluctuate and thus move through the coiled wire.
     
  4. Alpha_Geek

    Alpha_Geek Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2003
    Location:
    Central VA, US
    Get a voltmeter, try it, and report the results here.

    You can't hurt yourself with this one unless you get your finger caught in a clamp or something equally embarrasing.
     
  5. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    I don't have access to Neodymium magnets and I'm talking seriously big ones here so the magnetic fields would have greater repulsion.
     
  6. iguana_tonante

    iguana_tonante Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2006
    Location:
    Italy, EU
    The magnetic field would not fluctuate, as it would be a static field.

    No variation of the electromagnetic field, no current, no work.
     
  7. Jadzia

    Jadzia on holiday Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Location:
    England
    The fields don't fluctuate. They're static. Electromagnetic induction requires a continuous change in the relationship between the magnetic field and the conductor.

    eg, rotating the magnetic field, or changing the area of the coil.
     
  8. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    Why does nature mock me so? :(
     
  9. iguana_tonante

    iguana_tonante Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2006
    Location:
    Italy, EU
    Because it's easy. :p
     
  10. JustAFriend

    JustAFriend Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2002
    Location:
    South Florida, USA
    Sure you do.

    It's called the Internet. Order some.
     
  11. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    I don't have access to the sizes i'm talking about and I certainly don't have the money to pay for them at the prices they come at.
     
  12. Jadzia

    Jadzia on holiday Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Location:
    England
    Why not use electromagnets? Then you can make the magnetic field fluctuate, and you'll be able to use this to generate a current in your wire coil :)
     
  13. backstept

    backstept Rear Admiral Rear Admiral

    Joined:
    Nov 4, 2005
    that would defeat the purpose by using electricity to make electricity :D
     
  14. Jadzia

    Jadzia on holiday Premium Member

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2008
    Location:
    England
    I didn't realise that was the purpose; the purpose wasn't stated. I thought it was just a question about magnetic induction :p
     
  15. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Alpha_Geek

    Alpha_Geek Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2003
    Location:
    Central VA, US
    It's called "building a proof of concept model", which occurs quite frequently when people play "what-if" games in the real world of engineering.

    2 of these would be 16 bucks. They're N50 material and just under an inch in length:
    http://www.supermagnetman.net/product_info.php?cPath=30&products_id=132

    Here's your volttmeter, a 7 function DVM currently on sale for $2.99:
    http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90899


    For under 20 bucks, you too, can do real science! Now go to town.
     
  17. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    The magnets aren't big enough and besides that those ones are the wrong shape.
     
  18. Alpha_Geek

    Alpha_Geek Commodore Commodore

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2003
    Location:
    Central VA, US
    Yes they are, you build a small model as a proof of concept first.

    That web site has plenty of other magents. Go pick a couple of winners, cough up the cash, build your test rig and figure it out.

    It's time to experiment instead of talk about it.

    Besides, if it goes wrong, you gain a voltmeter for your toolbx, and a pair of really bitchin' refrigerator magnets.
     
  19. All Seeing Eye

    All Seeing Eye Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2000
    Location:
    The Astral Light Realms
    I'd sooner get them off ebay. ;)
     
  20. iguana_tonante

    iguana_tonante Admiral Admiral

    Joined:
    Sep 15, 2006
    Location:
    Italy, EU
    Too little for what? What will be achieved by using big-ass magnets that would not with smaller ones?