Magnetism

This page explains some simple facts about magnets.

Safety:

Neodymium magnets are *very* strong. Handling them with care is necessary to prevent personal injuries, property damages and magnet damages.

• Neodymium magnets are brittle; they can be broken or can splinter in a collision. One should wear gloves and protective glasses when handling these magnets, because splinters could disengage and fly from the magnets.
• Neodymium magnets will lose their magnetic properties if heated above 175°F (80° C).
• The strong magnetic fields of neodymium magnets can damage items such as television, computer monitors, credit cards, bank cards, computers, diskettes and other data carriers, video tapes, mechanical watches, hearing aids, loud speakers and VCRs. Pace-makers may be damaged or switch to "Test Mode" in the presence of a strong magnetic force, if a pace-maker is in use, keep a minimum of 3 feet distance.
• You should avoid having constant contact with magnets of any size and keep a distance of at least 3 feet to large magnets.
• Children should not be allowed to handle neodymium magnets as they can be dangerous. Small magnets pose a choking hazard and should never be swallowed or inserted into any part of the body.
• Under no circumstances should you try to cut, saw or drill the Neodymium magnets! Not only would the magnet break, but the resulting dust from the magnet is very flammable.
• Neodymium magnets should never be burned, as burning them will create toxic fumes.

How to determine polarity:

Ok so by now you have a bunch of magnets that got shipped to you in a box and there are no markings/colorations that explain polarity, what do you do?

One simple method is to hang the magnet from a string, the magnet will orient itself so that the North end of the magnet points towards the earth's North Pole. But you say like poles repel each other and opposite poles attract - how can this be? Now the earth's North Pole is actually magnetic South, when a magnet or compas is used it is referred to as 'North seeking'.

This magnet face is pointing towards the earth's North Pole!

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