Naked Science Forum
Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: LeeE on 04/05/2008 16:10:38
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...if you took a sphere made of iron, divided it into regular pyramids, with the apexes at the center of the sphere and the bases on the surface, magnetised each pyramid so that each apex was the N pole and each base was the S pole (or visa-versa), and then super-glued it all back together again?
Obviously, the difference in the amount of magnetic material would be uneven along the length of the magnets so we could refine the experiment by making each pyramid out of a matrix where the domain density over length, but not volume, remained constant - imagine pouring a suitable resin/domain mixture in to an inverted pyramid shaped mold where the flow rate of the resin increases with time but the amount of domains mixed in with it does not.
The next step would be to use electro-magnets instead of permanent magnets.
Just an idle curiosity question:)
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The south poles would sneak between the gaps in the north poles. You can't create a monopole that way.
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Designs for pseudo monopoles are about as common as those for perpetual motion machines and work just as often!
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Don't think in terms of N and S poles - think in terms of magnetic field lines which are endless loops. These loops go through the regions which you call poles, through the inside of the 'magnet' and out the other end. In the case of a single loop of current or a solenoid (many loops) it is easier to think about the field lines because you can't associate any particular bit of the coil as being a 'pole'.
If you consider a region which contains all the 'gubbins' of any thought experiment then all the lines which leave it will return back into it.
One point, though. You can get an arrangement where the 'north' pole can be more concentrated and 'stronger' and the less densely packed 'south' pole. The total 'flux' would be zero, though.