How could you check to see if aluminum is beneath white-painted plastic on a fridge (without scraping)?

Question

How would you tell that beneath a refrigerator door's layer of white-painted plastic is aluminum (without scraping)?

Could you use a magnet?

Answer 1

I don't think a normal magnet sticks to aluminum.

You could take the cardboard cover off the back and look at the walls on the sides.

Answer 2

anon is the only one who has givin a proper answer.


A magnent will not stick to aluminum. (unless you have a super strong electro magnet, but that will also stick to every thing else even the paint)

If you want to know if there is aluminum, you are going to have to divise a test based on the conductance of aluminum.

Use the idea that if you make a pendulum with a magnent for a bob, it will drive a current through aluminum as it travels near the surface.

Now (if the door is only made of aluminum, there is no other metal) place an aluminum sheet a couple centimeters from the door, and swing the pendulum between the sheet and the door.

The effects of the magnent on the aluminum will cause a drag on the pendulum. If the door is not made of aluminum the drag on the two sides will be un equal, and the pendulum will begin to hit one side or the other. if the door does have aluminum (and only aluminum) then the pendulum will swing back and forth, but just with a slower period than you would normaly expect.

Answer 3

You can create eddy currents in the aluminium when moving a magnet across it. These eddy currents create an opposing force and will slow the movement of the magnet down.

I would use a string attached to a magnet and swing it like a pendulum across the area in question.

Answer 4

Magnets don't stick to aluminum as they do with most metals. Refrigerators are not made with aluminum.

Answer 5

good strong magnet