From: Hubnet <Hubnet@aol.com>
Date: Sat, 21 Mar 1998 03:21:53 EST
To: pinhole@exploratorium.edu
Subject: Re: magnet workshop
Paul
I just did a discussion of the iron filings activity with bar magnets. My
understanding is that the bar magnet induces magnetic properties in the
filings and they align themselves with the field (alternatively, they respond
to the force of the bar magnet's field much as a compass would). Couple of
questions arose from that discussion: the collection of magnetized iron
filings must have a magnetic field, too. What effect do these fields have the
bar magnet's field? Is it possible for the fields of the filings to be
stronger than that of the bar magnet? If a new piece of iron filing were put
in the space between two of the lines (and the friction with the surface is
small enough to permit the filing to move) would it be attracted to an
existing line?
Don
How fortunate you should begin this dialogue at this moment.