You've probably heard of the terms "gauss" and "pull force" when describing a magnetic field. These terms are related, but different, which makes it difficult to understand the difference. No need to worry, we've outlined everything you need to know about gauss and pull force in this blog post. Let's dive in!

Gauss

Gauss is a unit of measurement that determines the strength of the magnetic field produced by a magnet. Understanding the gauss rating of a magnet can give buyers a better idea of the strength of the magnet that they need to purchase. For this magnets 101, we'll dive into pull force and gauss to see how they are related in terms of magnets.

Pull Force

Pull force is a reading that relates to the power of a magnet. Magnet pull force is the amount of force that is required to break the magnet free if it were attached to a steel plate. Pull force calculations require the assumption that the steel plate is flat and that the force used to pull the magnet is applied perpendicular to the surface of the plate. Sellers and manufacturers that list the pull force of a magnet must perform a test to determine this number. To get an accurate reading of the pull force, the test must be done in three different ways. Through the pull force test mentioned above, you can find the pull force. Also, by placing magnets between two steel plates, you can determine the pull force. The third method is finding the amount of force needed to dislodge a magnet from an identical magnet.

Calculating Pull Force with Gauss

Flux density is a measure of the strength of the magnetic field around a magnet. This measurement is typically expressed in terms of gauss, where the gauss rating of a magnet relates to the magnetic field. If the magnet's flux density is known, the pull force calculations can be solved theoretically instead of practically. However, the result of such a calculation will only give the expected pull force of a magnet. The only way you can accurately measure pull force is by combining the magnet itself with a steel plate.

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