Energy in a permanent magnet question

HardySpicer · 2012-04-13T11:29:21+00:00

Suppose I have a permanent magnet and attract a nail a height h fromthe ground. If the nail has mass m then I have done mgh of work(potential energy) which must come from the field. If I then attracta second nail the magnetic attraction will be less since I have usedenergy when attracting the first one - which is still attached. If Ikeep doing this there is little energy left to lift anything more.I then pull off the nails which requires energy from me. That energymust be released back into the field since I can then replicate theexperiment. Is this right? So energy is stored in permanent magnets.

Apr 13, 2012 100 Replies

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ala 14 years ago

how long could that possibly entertain you

"Achievement bring with it its own anticlimax."--agatha christie

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Energy in a permanent magnet question

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