Monday 8 October 2018

electromagnetism - Why does a magnetic field generate clearly visible separation?


I have noticed that when particles of metal are captured by a magnetic field. They separate into clearly visible patterns of lines. Why don't the particles form a more even distributed pattern?


Do these gaps/lines exist in the magnetic field itself?


Can someone explain why this happens?


As illustrated by this images.



Magnetic field example Magnetic field example Magnetic field example



Answer



Each particle of iron in a magnetic field becomes a tiny magnet, following the field lines. A small dipole. This means it will attract at its two poles and be neutral in the middle. This is a way of making a line.


The pictures you show are made for the purpose of displaying the field lines . If the whole area were filled with iron dust the effect would be much less visible, though there would be a direction, a type of flow of the dust, due to the gradual orientation of the dipoles along the field lines . The field lines themselves fill the space continuously.


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