FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions (and their answers!)

Universities and schools sometimes ask how to create a homogeneous magnetic field for experiments. In a homogeneous magnetic field, the lines of force are parallel and the magnetic field is equally strong in all places.

To create a magnetic field that is as homogeneous as possible, it is recommended to place two big magnets close to each other and to connect the back sides with an iron yoke. There will be a reasonably homogeneous field in the gap between the magnets. The smaller the gap and the larger the magnets, the more homogeneous the field will be.

In the example above we used two COLOSSUS with a side length of 40 mm and a height of 20 mm. The magnets are 10 mm apart from each other and the magnetic flux density between the magnets is approx. 0,95 tesla (= 9500 gauss).

Caution: If you want to build such a "horseshoe magnet" yourself, you need to be extremely careful when attaching the magnets. They much rather stick to each other than to the iron yoke. It is extremely difficult to get the magnets into position with the aid of wooden planks and various screw clamps and without injuring yourself. If you are interested in such a "horseshoe magnet", please let us know. If there is enough interest, we will produce a few and offer them for sale.

An alternative and less dangerous construction could look like the one above:

Caption:

1: Two iron pieces

2: An aluminum block between the iron pieces to sustain the distance between the two parts. It can also be a non ferromagnetic material like brass, wood, stainless steel, ...

3: Block magnet (or several)

4: The more or less homogeneous magnetic field is created in this gap between the two iron pieces

In this version, both pole faces come together in a pyramid-shape. That enlarges the flux density in the air gap. This way, you can create flux densities that are much larger than those of the used magnets.