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How Is a Magnet Demagnetized?

Magnets are made up of magnetic dipoles, which are microscopic electric charges flowing in a loop. Electrons spinning on their axis, circulating around an atomic nucleus or positively charged atomic nuclei are magnetic dipoles. Iron atoms are permanent magnetic dipoles. Other atoms can be demagnetized by having their microscopic processes disrupted in some way, depending on the strength of the dipole and torque or magnetic force of the magnet.
  1. Hit It

    • Hit the magnet repeatedly with a hammer or drop it to the ground in order to disrupt the order of the magnetic dipoles. Once displaced by the vibration, the magnetism will be lost.

    Heat It

    • Heat the magnet past its Curie point to remove inherent ferromagnetism. For most rocks and materials, this is above 570 degrees Celsius. Iron's Curie point is more than 770 degrees Celsius.

    AC It

    • Use an alternating current to demagnetize a magnet by generating a current through a solenoid. By alternating the current, the magnet's dipoles will try to keep reversing and can't keep up; breaking the order of the dipoles and thus, the magnetism.

    VTMD It

    • Go technical and use a magnet demagnetizer. While only useful for the tips of screwdrivers and other steel tools, it only takes seconds to magnetize or demagnetize an object. Insert the tip of the object into the small hole of the VTMD and rapidly shake for several seconds.

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