How come neodymium magnets will never go back together once they are broken?

Question

If you break a neodymium magnet in half the magnets will never go back together the same way there were before they were broken. What causes this to happen? Why does it differ from other magnets?

Answer 1

The same thing happens to other magnets, including the black ceramic magnets that come out of speakers and small electric motors. The reason the fragments never go back together to make a magnet the same shape as the original is because the north/south poles are split, and like poles repel. To illustrate (excuse the mess, the fonts Yahoo chose suck for this kind of thing):

Before breaking:

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

After breaking:

NNNNNNN NNNNNNNN
NNNNNNN NNNNNNNN
SSSSSSS SSSSSSSS
SSSSSSS SSSSSSSS

As you can see, the like poles will repel. Now what would happen if you were to break the magnet like this?

Before breaking:

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

After breaking:

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN

SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Answer: The magnet would break, but the poles would not be as above but rather like this:

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

NNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
SSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

And the magnet would theoretically stick together like normal. So why does it never seem to happen that way? The most useful magnets usually have their poles facing their largest side because that is the most efficient use of the magnetic field. Larger surface areas attract flat surfaces more strongly. Now, when the magnet breaks, it is most likely to break where it is thinnest, which is across its poles instead of between them if the magnet is like most. Another reason may be that it is very difficult to break a magnet exactly right.

Something else you might be interested in: some magnets have more than two poles. Many celestial bodies, for example, have extra poles. Same thing goes for smaller magnets, especially the mineral magnetite.

I wish there was something they could add to the neodymium alloy to make it more durable. I have some small neodymium magnets and they tend to chip and shatter. I just bought a really big one (3" diameter, 1" thick disc), out of curiosity. I intend to encase it in some kind of padded plastic shell to protect it from damage as much as possible. Anyway, I hope this answers your question. Good night!

Answer 2

there are north and south ends to every magnet. ex north and north can never go together and same with south and south.
when you break a magnet it forms more north and south ends and ofcourse when broken there are rigid edges which have multiple ends to them so it will never fit the same way

Answer 3

'neodymium' magnets do not 're-connect' for a reason.. that reason being they are saving their force for your friends that have piercings.. when one of your pierced friends comes over, throw them a fragment of your magnet... if it sticks ? COOL THROW MORE!..if it dint stick.. then they went to the right place for a ring-job.. sorry. couldn't resist ..lol

Answer 4

they are in all threat only goofing around, making forts, polishing sticks, and stuff. or their only throwing their fish lower back. or perchance they don't seem to attend and notice with fishing, and the take the pole out of the water another seconds. hows approximately next time you pass alongside with them. in the event that they permit you already know to pass lower back, then somethin fishy is goin on (haha lol). yet once you pass there with them and that they fish, and that they capture fish, then somethin fishy is goin on, think of approximately it, how come they capture fish no which you're there, and not all the different days. now i honestly think of they are doing somethin strange and you may desire to be onto them, until eventually you pass and fish with them and that they actually dont capture any fish.