Abstract

The force between permanent magnets implemented in many engineering devices remains an intriguing problem in basic physics. The variation of magnetic force with the distance x between a pair of magnets cannot usually be approximated as x^–4 because of the dipole nature and geometry of magnets. In this work, the force between two identical cylindrical magnets is accurately described by a closed-form solution. The analytical model assumes that the magnets are uniformly magnetized along their length. The calculation, based on the magnetic field exerted by one magnet on the other along the direction of their orientation, shows a reduction in the magnetic force with the distance x and a dependence on the size parameters of magnets. To verify the equation, the experiment was set up by placing two cylindrical neodymium iron boron type magnets in a vertical tube. The repulsive force between the identical upper and lower magnets of 2.5 cm in diameter and 7.5 cm in length was measured from the weight on the top of the upper magnet. The resulting separation between the magnets was recorded as x. The forces measured at x = 0.004-0.037 m differ from the values calculated using the analytic solution by-0.55 % to-13.60 %. The calculation also gives rise to a practical remnant magnetic field of 1.206 T. When x is much larger than the length of magnets, the equation of force is approximated as a simple form proportional to 1/x^–4. The finding can be directly used in magnetic levitation as well as applied in calculating magnetic fields and forces in other systems incorporating permanent magnets.