Jump to content

Maddening Magnets


Recommended Posts

Keep in mind that I'm a regents physics dropout, so please bear with me: 

 

I'm going off to college in less than two weeks. Earlier tonight I was organizing four big magnets I found to bring with me, when my mom came in and started rambling on about my textbooks. Absentmindedly I began to fiddle with these magnets, when I discovered that they all attached to each other. I said to myself, "SELF. They shouldn't all be attracted to each other! What about opposite poles? If I've got two sets, each set has a north and south magnetic field--opposites attract!"

 

So my question is, why isn't there any repelling going on between the two sets? Shouldn't there be a combination of these magnets that would result in two sets of repelling magnets?

 

Thanks a bunch!  :geek:

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Absolutely!  And you were never a physics dropout, your schedule was too full.

 

Take any two of the magnets, and if they are both true magnets, you should be able to find an orientation in which they can attract each other, and also repel each other.  You can't have a north end of a magnet without a south (or if you ever do truly find one, call me, we'll go win a Nobel prize together!)  Have a great time this fall!!!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...