What type of metal is most attracted/repelled by with magnets, as in which one will work better with magnets?

Question

I figured Physics people might know this too... I would like to know an answer, thanks.

Original Q found here:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AuiSPPhPTcWMpFPhyvSJLbTsy6IX?qid=20060620161621AAkILWa

Answer 1

For attractiveness and sticking, pure steel all the way. Other factors contribute as well:
- minimize/eliminate any coating
- make the surfaces rough
- etch a repeated pattern in the magnet and the metal such that they fit together like a key in a lock. (pyramid pattern is most common.

Answer 2

Iron is the best answer is already stated. However, permeativity to magnetism can be inceased several ways. For example, if you need to make a good inductor, such as a transformer, where the coil windings and magnetic field in the primary coil will create a magnetic field in the secondary coil, and thus electricity, you want the highest possible magnetic conductance coupling the two coils to each other.

One way to do that is to take skinny individual metal plates and place them right next to each other and create a square magnetic conductor rather than one big piece of iron of equal thickness. The relationship of coil windidings to voltage is:

N1/n2 =V1/v2, so the ratio of turns of N1 (primary coil) devided by turns ratio of the secondary coil is the voltage ratio.

So for example, if we want 40 volts from the secondary, but have 120 volts from the primary, we have 120/40=30:1 ratio.

So if the primary winding is 300 turns and the secondary winding is 10 turns, we would achieve the desired effect. Because 300:10 is like 30:1. However, this would not be possible without a highly efficient magnetic coupling between the two coils. If the "coefficient of coupling" is less, the formula is not as accurate. So in a way, you have an indirect way of measuring magnetic saturation of a magnetic conductor.


Also, sprinkinling iron particles on a piece of plastic that winds from reel-to-reel is how audio cassettes and VHS video cassets work. The magnetic field that carries the audio is encoded in the magnetic pattern of the iron particles.

I hope I helped. Any more questions feel free to ask

Answer 3

Iron. Their are alloys and other compounds that make better magnets though.

Answer 4

How many times are you going to ask this question?

Answer 5

to repel try aluminium