A Simple Apparatus for the Direct Measurement of Magnetic Forces and Magnetic Properties of Materials

TL;DR

This paper introduces a straightforward, high-resolution setup using a scale and a magnet to measure magnetic forces and properties of various materials, suitable for research and teaching.

Contribution

It presents a simple, accessible apparatus for directly measuring magnetic forces and properties, demonstrating its effectiveness with multiple material types.

Findings

Measured magnetic forces of iron samples, paramagnetic samples, and superconductors.

Demonstrated the apparatus's capability in research and educational settings.

Achieved milligram resolution in force measurements.

Abstract

In this paper, we describe a simple apparatus consisting of a scale, capable of a one milligram resolution, and a commonly obtainable magnet to measure magnetic forces. This simple apparatus is capable of measuring magnetic properties of materials in either a research or an instructional laboratory. We illustrate the capability of this apparatus by the measurement of the force of iron samples exerted on the magnet, the force of a paramagnetic sample, that by a current carrying wire, and the force of a high temperature superconductor.