2007-10-24 11:48:24 · 2 answers · asked by qt_pitutie1564 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Physics
A steady (not pulsed) magnetic field of even a few Tesla probably wouldn't do much to a cell phone. The first symptom would probably be damage to the liquid crystal display. If it included a disk for a PDA or MP3 player, 1 Tesla would likely be enough to erase the disk. 16 Tesla is enough to levitate a frog (see second reference).
2007-10-24 15:37:35 · answer #1 · answered by Frank N 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strength matters less than proximity. Modern magnetic materials vary in strength only by 2-3 times. Since magnetic strength is measured by the _density_ of field lines, if you double the size of a magnet, it does not double in intensity, since it has twice the volume.
On the other hand, distance makes a much larger difference. Since magnets are dipoles, the strength of a magnetic field varies somewhere between distance ^2 to distance ^3. In other words, if you move a magnet from 10 cm to 5 cm away, its strength goes up somewhere between 4x to 8x.
This means almost ANY powerful magnet will NOT affect a cell phone if you keep it at least a few feet away. get it within a few inches, though, and powerful ones can have their effect.
2007-10-24 18:59:19 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋