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mustangwallflower t1_iu4sv8m wrote

Reply to comment by DudoVene in If I have two identical rare earth magnets and put them together, is the power of the combined magnets doubled? What about 3 or 4 magnets (tripled? quadrupled?)? by asdfredditusername

So would a series of thin stacked magnets combine to have more charge than a series of very thick magnets? (Assuming an individual magnet of each had the same strength)

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Mr__Teal t1_iu4uowv wrote

10 1mm thick magnets stacked would have more total strength than 2 5mm magnets if each magnet is the same strength, yes. However all else being equal (same diameter, composition, etc) the 5mm thickness magnets would tend to be stronger than the 1mm thick magnets. In practice the two stacks would have similar strength if they were the same material and the same diameter.

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mustangwallflower t1_iu5vf5j wrote

So, let's make this more clear:

  • a stack of 10 x 1mm thick magnets with a pull strength of 1kg each
  • a stack of 2 x 5mm thick magnets with a pull strength of 5kg each

Would the resulting magnetic force at the end of each stack be the same: 10kg? (give or take a little)

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ukezi t1_iuh5a24 wrote

They would basically have the same strength. In reality rare earth magnets have a protective layer on the outside to prevent oxidation so I would expect the stack of thick magnets to be slightly stronger.

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DudoVene t1_iu4ufka wrote

a magnet is a like a tower of dipoles (the molecule or part of the crystal with magnetic properties) stacked together.

so imagine an isolated dipole, it will be the smallest magnet in the world. stack it with others (in the good direction) and you obtain a stronger magnet with its "power" the sum of individual magnet.

you can simplify (only to understanding) the strenght of a magnet as the sum of individual dipole, therefore as the height of the stack.

consequently, 2 different configuration of your magnet (thin or very thin) but with the same final size will show the same strenght, and the same strenght of one super unique magnet as tall as the 2 stacks.

hope it will help !

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