======Magnetic Shielding======


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**Materials: **{{$demo.materials_description}}\\
**Difficulty: **{{$demo.difficulty_description}}\\
**Safety: **{{$demo.safety_description}}\\
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**Categories:** {{$demo.categories}}
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**Alternative titles:** Blocking Magnetic Fields
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====Summary====                   
{{$demo.summary}}



====Procedure====  
  -See links for below for experiment set up.  
  -Insert a plastic ruler between the magnet and the paper clip. Note whether the magnetic attraction remains.  
  -Repeat the test with a steel ruler and steel bookend, observing any decrease in attraction or shielding effect.  
  -Test different coins (copper, nickel, or mixed alloys) by placing them between the magnet and the paper clip.  
  -Compare which materials reduce or block the magnetic force and which do not.  
  -Discuss the differences between ferritic (magnetic) and austenitic (non-magnetic) steel.



====Links==== 
Magnetic Shielding Demonstrations - Physics Lens: 
{{youtube>uHQtOalFwSA?}}\\

📄 Magnetic Shielding - Physics Lens: [[https://www.physicslens.com/video-on-magnetic-shielding/]]\\


====Variations====
  *Try varying the thickness of the magnetic shielding material to see how it affects the result.  
  *Use different types of magnets (e.g., bar magnet, neodymium disc) to compare field strength.  
  *Test other metals such as aluminum, brass, or zinc to confirm they do not shield magnetic fields.  
  *Use iron sheets of different shapes to visualize how magnetic field direction changes.



====Safety Precautions====
  *Handle strong magnets with care—they can pinch fingers or attract metal objects suddenly.  
  *Keep magnets away from electronics, credit cards, and magnetic storage devices.  
  *Avoid using brittle materials or sharp-edged metal objects.  
  *Supervise younger students closely when handling small objects like coins or paper clips.




====Questions to Consider====
  *Which materials blocked the magnet’s attraction to the paper clip? (Magnetic materials such as ferritic steel.)  
  *Why do some steels act as magnetic shields while others do not? (Ferritic steel contains iron atoms aligned magnetically; austenitic steel’s crystal structure prevents this.)  
  *Why did the plastic ruler have no effect on the magnetic field? (Non-magnetic materials do not interact with magnetic field lines.)  
  *How does a magnetic shield redirect field lines? (It provides a low-resistance path for magnetic fields, drawing lines through itself instead of letting them pass through the air.)  
  *Where is magnetic shielding used in real life? (In electronic devices, MRI rooms, and sensitive instruments to prevent interference.)