The Horseshoe Magnet: Frequently Asked Questions
We have collected the most common questions asked about horseshoe magnets.
Where does the term “magnet” come from?Magnet
The name of all artificial magnets derives from the naturally magnetic mineral magnetite. This in turn is said to have originally been discovered in the Greek region of Magnesia. The version of the ancient historian Pliny is different: According to him, a shepherd named Magnes in the Turkish Ida Mountains once noticed that the nails of his shoes and the metal tip of his walking stick stuck to the magnetite-containing soil.
Which is stronger – A horseshoe magnet or a rodmagnet?
If both are the same size, a horseshoe magnet will have a higher holding force or adhesion than a rodmagnet. In contrast to the rodmagnet, which can never bring both poles into contact with a metal part at the same time, a horseshoe magnet acts on its metallic counterpart due to its bridge shape with north and south poles together. In addition, the absolute size of a magnet is decisive for its adhesive force.
Finally, the strength of the magnetic effect depends not least on the material of the magnet: So-called ferrite magnets exert relatively weak forces of attraction and can only be used up to an operating temperature of 250 °C. Magnets made of aluminium, nickel, and cobalt (AlNiCo) are stronger and can be used up to an operating temperature of 500 °C. The material is easy to process, so you can get AlNiCo magnets in many conceivable shapes – including horseshoe magnets. Magnets made of the rare earth neodymium in combination with iron and boron are often referred to as “super magnets” due to their strong adhesive force or magnetic forces. However, because neodymium is brittle, they do not come in the horseshoe shape. Accordingly, there are no neodymium horseshoe magnets.
What is the use of a horseshoe magnet?
Permanent magnets are used by industry in the field of mechanics, electronics and electromechanics, for example in:
Electric engines
Bicycle dynamos
Microwave ovens
modern wind turbines
In the past, horseshoe magnets were often used as field magnets in radio speakers. With large dimensions, they can lift scrap and metal parts or dangerous goods or help to sort out metal objects in waste separation. In schools and private homes, horseshoe magnets (bridge shape) enable vivid experiments, can be used for handicrafts and DIY or to collect metallic bodies and small parts from chaotic desk drawers, toolboxes or sewing boxes.
The Horseshoe Magnet Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get nice and big horseshoe magnets?
At magnet-shop.netyou can get horseshoe magnets made of ferrite as well as AlNicCo – the latter naturally exerting the stronger magnetic force. Large specimens, whose poles are colour-coded, are particularly suitable for the learning experiments described.
Of course, we also have super magnets or neodymium magnets for you in the magnet shop.
What does geographic and magnetic north pole mean?
The rotational movements of the earth’s liquid core create a huge magnetic field in and around our planet, comparable to that of a large rodmagnet. Any magnet on earth aligns itself with the course of this field if you hang it loosely on a piece of string, for example. However, the geographical north pole of our planet, which represents the imaginary northern crossing point of the earth’s rotation axis, is not congruent with the magnetic pole of the Arctic. The magnetic pole is a few kilometers from the geographic pole and moves up to 80 kilometers a day, depending on solar activity. Confusingly, the magnetic pole in the Arctic is a south magnetic pole. This naming has historical reasons. When humans first discovered that a pole of a magnet oriented north, the convention of calling the corresponding side of the magnet the “North Pole” arose. Only later did it become clear that opposite poles attract and that the magnetic pole in the north of the earth must therefore be a magnetic south pole. To avoid confusion, science today refers to the “Arctic and Antarctic magnetic poles”.
How does a horseshoe magnet work?
HufeisenmagnetIn contrast to an electromagnet, a horseshoe magnet is what is known as a permanent magnet. Due to its material composition, it constantly generates a magnetic field within itself and in its immediate vicinity. Like every magnet in the world, a horseshoe magnet has two magnetic poles. Both its north and south poles exert strong gravitational pulls on bodies made of ferromagnetic materials such as iron, cobalt, and nickel. This force is also known as the Lorentz force. The exact definition of the Lorentz force is: The Lorentz force is the force that acts on individual moving charge carriers in a magnetic field (Lorentz force).
This phenomenon is due to the atomic structure of metals. Due to the spin, the movement of the electrons around the atomic nucleus, each iron particle acquires the properties of a tiny electromagnet. Each atom has its own north and south poles.
When iron encounters a magnet, its elementary components align with the pole counterparts of the magnet. So, the north pole of each iron atom moves towards the south pole of the magnet and vice versa. The effect is visible and noticeable in the form of magnetic attraction on these bodies.
Conclusion: Horseshoe magnets are ideal for school lessons
Magnetism is ideal for getting children interested in science and for demonstrating the Lorentz force on metallic bodies, for example. Materials that attract each other as if by magic and align themselves with invisible field lines arouse curiosity about the physical laws in the background. While young researchers like to experiment, the older ones are particularly fascinated by the practical use of magnets – be it in DIY, salvaging dangerous goods or elegant clasps on designer handbags or gold jewellery. Take advantage of the advantages and order the right horseshoe magnet here!
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