Neodymium bar magnets are one of the most common shapes of magnets, being used in experiments and everyday items regularly! Bar magnets range in size, from 1/2”x1/8”x1/8” to 2”x1”x1”, and in pull force, from 0.95 pounds to 90.28 pounds per magnet. What makes them different than other Apex magnets products is that they are magnetized through the length of their body. In addition, the poles are on each end with the weakest part of the magnet in the middle, meaning that they may not be as successful in holding onto a magnetic surface. Demonstrating a Magnetic Field Using a bar magnet, under adult supervision, can help students better visualize and understand magnetism by physically showing them where a magnetic field is. This type of demonstration is simple--place a bar magnet under a piece of white paper and spread metal shavings over top (with caution). This will immediately show where the bar magnet’s magnetic field is by seeing where the shavings disperse. Experimenting with Magnetic Fields Once you’ve demonstrated a magnetic field, further experiment by creating a hollow pyramid with a ring magnet and a bar magnet. The three experiments described in this previous blog demonstrate how magnetic fields interact with each other based on their proximity and strength. Different magnets will yield different results, so you may want to get a few different sizes of bar magnets and ring magnets to swap out and test! Magnetizing Metal Objects With only three items, a bar magnet, a steel object (such as a screwdriver or sewing needle), and a paper clip, you can turn a regular piece of steel or another type of metal into a magnet. How does it work? When a magnet rubs against a metal object, it causes the electrons in the object to align, resulting in magnetism. This isn’t a permanent change, but the magnetism will hold for a while. In order to demagnetize your steel object, just hit the object on a surface. The impact causes the electrons to lose their magnetic alignment! Breathing New Life into Childhood Toys Still holding onto the Matchbox cars from your youth, but aren’t sure why? Maybe you were waiting for the right project to come along! This simple DIY project uses bar magnets and horseshoe magnets to give your toy cars a magnetic upgrade. All you have to do is attach a bar magnet to each car and “drive” them around with a horseshoe magnet hovering above! To add a little more dimension to your project, consider purchasing a few different kinds of magnets--from ring magnets to cube magnets--and seeing what happens when you swap out your bar magnets on the car or the horseshoe “controller” magnet! Let Apex Magnets Help You on Your Next Project If you’re looking to use bar magnets to demonstrate or experiment with magnetism, we’re here to help. You can find 1/2”x1/4”x1/4” bars, 1/4”x1/4”1/4” bars and other popular bar magnets on our website, as well as by calling us to help you find the right magnet for your project! Apex Magnets is always working on ways our customers can use our wide selection of magnets! Do you have other uses for block magnets that weren’t mentioned here? Share it on our Facebook or drop us a message.