magnet
Enable an AI agent to recognise a magnet, assess its magnetic and physical state, and decide whether and how it can be handled, tested or used.
Research draft, second pass
A second pass drafted this model: the structure a model of this thing needs, and what is known about it in the world. The line under this one says how the second half was obtained - researched against sources, or recalled without web access, in which case nothing here was read anywhere and every claim is a lead to verify. Unreviewed either way.
Researched by: Codex + Grok
Purpose and description
Enable an AI agent to recognise a magnet, assess its magnetic and physical state, and decide whether and how it can be handled, tested or used.
A magnet is a compact source of magnetic field, either a hard ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic body that retains a usable remanent magnetization after the magnetizing field is removed, or a current-carrying winding (normal or superconducting, often with a soft-magnetic core) that produces field only while energized.
It can be Identify and mark pole regions and a reference orientation.; Measure field distribution and compare performance with a documented baseline.; Evaluate holding, repulsion, alignment or torque for a specified counterpart and geometry.; Position, secure, separate or store the magnet using a supported handling method.; Energise, de-energise or adjust excitation when the magnet type and operating limits permit.; Assess whether damage or exposure requires retesting, withdrawal from use or a qualified magnetisation procedure..
Distinguishing features
Determine whether the candidate produces an attributable magnetic field in a documented operating state; attraction alone does not distinguish a magnet from an object attracted by one.
Test whether its field persists after external excitation is removed, distinguishing retained magnetisation from excitation-dependent behaviour.
Establish whether an observed field belongs to the candidate itself or to an attached, concealed or nearby magnet.
Identify whether the candidate is the field-producing component or a larger device whose function merely uses that component.
Map polarity or directional field behaviour rather than treating attraction of one test object as sufficient identification.
Scope
+ Magnet type, construction and intended magnetic function
+ Pole arrangement, field distribution and magnetisation state
+ Magnetic force or torque under specified interaction conditions
+ Physical integrity and conditions affecting magnetic performance
+ Handling, placement, storage and permitted changes of magnetic state
- Power supplies and control systems serving an electromagnet
- Complete motors, generators, loudspeakers and other devices containing magnets
- Bulk magnetic material before it is identified as a functional magnet
- Magnetic sensors and instruments used to measure the magnet
- Clinical decisions about medical implants near magnets
Characteristics
- Magnet operating type
- permanent; electromagnet; hybrid; other; undetermined Determines which excitation conditions and magnetic states must be recorded.
- Magnetic material and construction
- documented material or grade; solid, bonded, laminated, wound or assembly construction; unknown Supports interpretation of performance limits, damage and appropriate handling.
- Magnetic field distribution
- magnetic flux density vector in tesla at stated positions, orientation and operating conditions Describes where the magnet can act and permits meaningful comparison between measurements.
- Pole arrangement
- identified pole regions and magnetisation directions relative to a defined body coordinate system; unresolved Determines alignment, coupling and interaction with other magnets.
- Interaction performance
- force in newtons or torque in newton-metres, with counterpart, gap, alignment and test conditions Connects magnetic behaviour to a proposed holding, positioning or actuation task.
- Excitation dependency
- linked excitation source and required current, waveform or external field; none documented; unknown Explains when the magnet is active and which external dependencies govern its state.
- Magnetic performance state
- verified against baseline; changed from baseline; intentionally altered; unverified Separates measured degradation or adjustment from unsupported assumptions about magnet strength.
- Thermal operating condition
- temperature in degrees Celsius, with location, exposure duration and applicable documented limits Supports decisions about operation and whether magnetic performance needs reassessment.
- Physical integrity
- observations of cracking, chipping, corrosion, coating failure, winding damage or loose magnetic elements Identifies damage that may affect retention, handling or magnetic function.
- Magnetic interaction constraints
- linked nearby objects or equipment, applicable restrictions and evidence for any required separation Makes placement and handling decisions specific to the actual surroundings.
Also called
Where this came from
wikidata · CC0 1.0
Also registered as vr.tr.magnet
Drafted structure
Bundle to layer to finding to question, as the second pass will find it: 6 bundles · 11 layers · 18 findings · 28 questions.
Magnet identity and boundary Establish what constitutes this magnet and how its magnetic function arises.
An agent must distinguish the magnet from passive magnetic material and from the device surrounding it.
Field-producing identity
Identify the candidate through attributable magnetic behaviour and its excitation dependency.
Magnet type and evidence
Record the proposed magnet type and the observation or documentation supporting that classification.
- What observation or documentation establishes that this candidate functions as a magnet? definition
- Does its magnetic field persist without excitation, require excitation or combine both behaviours? measurement
Magnetic component boundary
Define which field-producing and field-guiding parts belong to the magnet.
Included magnetic assembly
Record whether the magnet is a single body or an assembly and identify its external dependencies.
- Which magnetic elements, windings, cores, pole pieces or housings constitute this registered magnet? boundary
- Which power, control, mounting or host-device components belong to separate models? boundary
Field and pole configuration Describe the magnet's directional field behaviour in a reproducible spatial reference.
A single strength value cannot establish polarity, usable orientation or field exposure around a magnet.
Pole topology
Locate pole regions and magnetisation directions relative to the physical body.
Verified pole layout
Record the supported pole arrangement without assuming a simple two-ended geometry.
- Where are the identified pole regions and magnetisation directions relative to the magnet's reference axes? measurement
- Were pole labels established by measurement, manufacturer documentation or an unverified marking? provenance
Spatial field behaviour
Capture field measurements together with the conditions needed to interpret them.
Conditioned field map
Record magnetic flux density at relevant positions, including measurement uncertainty and nearby influences.
- What field magnitude and direction were measured at the working surface and relevant distances? measurement
- What instrument, uncertainty, temperature, excitation and nearby magnetic objects affected those measurements? provenance
Magnetic coupling and use Connect the magnet's field to a specified mechanical or functional interaction.
Usable magnetic performance depends on the counterpart and geometry, so catalogue strength alone cannot authorise a task.
Interaction geometry
Identify the counterpart and spatial conditions of magnetic coupling.
Counterpart and gap
Record the interacting object, its relevant magnetic properties and the geometry of contact or separation.
- What counterpart is intended to interact with the magnet, and what is known about its material, dimensions or magnetisation? boundary
- What gap, contact area, intervening layers and relative orientation apply during use? measurement
Task performance
Determine whether the specified magnetic interaction meets the intended task.
Demonstrated force or torque
Separate measured interaction performance from ratings obtained under different conditions.
- What force or torque is demonstrated for the actual counterpart, gap, alignment and load direction? measurement
- What task-specific acceptance criteria must be met before the magnet may hold, position or actuate that counterpart? action
Magnetic state and operating envelope Assess present magnetic performance and the conditions governing permitted operation or state changes.
The agent needs evidence about the magnet's current state and limits rather than inferring readiness from its appearance.
Performance history
Relate current measurements to a baseline and relevant exposure history.
Baseline and state change
Record evidence of retained performance, changed magnetisation or unresolved variation.
- How does current field or interaction performance compare with a baseline measured under comparable conditions? measurement
- What thermal exposure, opposing fields, impacts or previous magnetisation procedures are documented? provenance
Permitted operating conditions
Identify applicable material, thermal and excitation limits and supported state-change procedures.
Operating and transition limits
Record limits applicable to this magnet and the conditions for changing its magnetic state.
- Which documented temperature, excitation, duty-cycle or external-field limits apply to this magnet's construction? boundary
- Which energising, de-energising, magnetising or demagnetising actions are supported, and what verification must follow? action
Integrity and magnetic handling Assess damage and control interactions during movement, placement and storage.
Magnetic forces and field-sensitive surroundings make handling decisions depend on more than the object's mass and shape.
Functional integrity
Inspect damage to the magnetic body, protective surfaces and constituent magnetic assembly.
Damage and retention
Record defects and whether magnetic elements remain mechanically secure and fit for the intended use.
- Are there cracks, chips, corrosion, coating defects, winding damage or loose magnetic elements? measurement
- Which observed defects require containment, repair, performance testing or withdrawal under the applicable acceptance criteria? action
Controlled magnetic interactions
Define handling and placement methods for the actual magnet and surrounding objects.
Handling and separation constraints
Record supported controls for unintended attraction, separation forces and exposure of field-sensitive equipment.
- Which nearby magnets, loose ferromagnetic objects or field-sensitive devices constrain movement, placement or storage? boundary
- What evidence supports the chosen securing method, separation method, storage arrangement and any required exclusion distance? action
Evidence and external alignment What the world already says about this thing, gathered so the model can be checked against it.
A model that cannot be lined up against existing standards, identifiers and practice cannot be adopted by anyone who already uses them.
Reported evidence
Findings from the breadth pass, kept separate from the structural claims.
Kinds and varieties
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Permanent (hard) magnet
- Electromagnet
- Superconducting magnet
- Ferrite/ceramic magnet
- Rare-earth magnet (NdFeB, SmCo)
- Alnico magnet
- Bonded or flexible magnet
- Magnetic assembly (pot/cup, channel, latch, lifting magnet)
- Which of these kinds and varieties hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Identifiers and schemes
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Wikidata - Q11412 - Item for the physical object 'magnet', not the phenomenon magnetism.
- Harmonized System (HS) - 8505 - Electromagnets; permanent magnets and articles intended to become permanent magnets; magnetic chucks, couplings, brakes, lifting heads.
- IEC 60404-8-1 material designation - IEC grade codes for magnetically hard materials (ferrite, Alnico, RECo, REFeB families) - The standard names magnet materials, not individual magnet parts.
- Commercial NdFeB grade - N[0-9]{2} with optional suffix M/H/SH/UH/EH/AH (e.g. N35, N52, N42SH) - The two-digit number is nominal (BH)max in MGOe; the suffix encodes maximum use temperature. Industry convention, not an ISO code.
- Which of these identifiers and schemes hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Standards and regulation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- IEC 60404-8-1 magnetically hard materials - International Electrotechnical Commission
- IEC 60404 series (magnetic materials and measurement methods) - International Electrotechnical Commission
- UN 2807 magnetized material, IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations / ICAO Technical Instructions - IATA and ICAO
- 16 CFR Part 1262 Safety Standard for Magnets - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- ASTM F963 toy safety (magnet flux index, ingestion) - ASTM International
- EN 71-1 toy safety, magnetic components - CEN
- EU Toy Safety Directive 2009/48/EC as applied to magnetic toys - European Union
- ICNIRP Guidelines on Limits of Exposure to Static Magnetic Fields (2009) - International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection
- IEC 60601-2-33 medical electrical equipment, MRI (static field, quench, projectile) - International Electrotechnical Commission
- Which of these standards and regulation hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Real-world use
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Field source in permanent-magnet motors, generators, loudspeakers, and HDD voice-coil actuators
- Holding, latching, and workholding: cabinet catches, name badges, magnetic chucks, scrap and plate lifting magnets
- Magnetic separation of ferrous particles in food processing, mining, and recycling
- Clinical MRI and NMR: superconducting whole-body magnets, most often 1.5 T and 3 T
- Position, proximity, and speed sensing with Hall-effect sensors and reed switches
- Teaching and navigation: bar and horseshoe magnets, compass needles
- Particle-accelerator, fusion, and laboratory windings (resistive and superconducting)
- Which of these real-world use hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Typical measurements
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Remanence Br - 0.2-1.45 (ferrite ~0.4; NdFeB ~1.2-1.45) - T
- Intrinsic coercivity Hcj - 100-2500 (Alnico low; NdFeB and SmCo high) - kA/m
- Maximum energy product (BH)max - 8-400 (ferrite ~20-35; NdFeB up to ~400) - kJ/m³
- Pole-face / surface flux density - 0.005-1.4 - T
- Holding (pull) force of assemblies - 0.1-20000 - N
- Curie temperature - 310 (NdFeB) to ~450 (ferrite) to ~700-860 (SmCo, Alnico) - °C
- Maximum recommended operating temperature - 80 (N-grade NdFeB) to ~200 (AH-grade) to ~300+ (ferrite, SmCo) - °C
- Which of these typical measurements hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Failure modes and hazards
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Irreversible demagnetization when temperature approaches the grade's maximum use temperature or the Curie point
- Demagnetization by a reverse field above coercivity, especially in Alnico and poorly loaded open-circuit magnets
- Brittle fracture and flying chips of sintered NdFeB and ferrite
- Corrosion of uncoated NdFeB in humid or salt atmospheres
- Pinch and crush injuries between strong magnets or a magnet and steel
- Ingestion of two or more small high-powered magnets causing bowel-wall ischemia and fistula, especially in children
- Ferromagnetic projectile accidents in high-field MRI rooms
- Superconducting-magnet quench: sudden field collapse and cryogen venting
- Interference with pacemakers and ICDs, magnetic-stripe cards, and some instruments
- Air-transport compass deviation or shipment rejection when magnetized cargo exceeds IATA field limits
- Which of these failure modes and hazards hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Regional variation
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- US and much of the magnet trade still quote (BH)max in MGOe and field in gauss/oersted; IEC and scientific use is kJ/m³, tesla, and A/m (1 MGOe ≈ 7.96 kJ/m³)
- Sintered NdFeB production and many grade catalogues are concentrated in China; Japanese producers historically set high-grade naming practice
- Small high-powered magnet sets are more tightly restricted in the United States (16 CFR 1262) than in some other consumer markets
- English 'lodestone' names naturally magnetized magnetite; other languages use local magnet words (French aimant, German Magnet, Japanese jishaku) rather than that mineral name
- Ferrite remains the default low-cost magnet in many regional motor and speaker markets; rare-earth substitution tracks price and export-control regimes
- Which of these regional variation hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart
Reported by the breadth pass; each item needs checking against its source before it becomes normative.
- Soft magnetic core (transformer or inductor iron) - A core is specified by high permeability and low remanence/loss so it does not stay magnetized; a permanent magnet is specified by remanence, coercivity, and (BH)max.
- Magnetic field - The field is the continuum quantity B or H in space; the magnet is the material or winding that is the source of that field.
- Magnetite / lodestone (mineral) - Magnetite is an Fe3O4 ore or crystal; it is a magnet only when it carries a net remanent moment and is used as a field source.
- Solenoid actuator - A solenoid is a coil-plus-plunger linear actuator; an electromagnet is specified as a holding or field device and need not have a moving armature.
- Magnetic recording medium - Media store localized magnetization patterns for information; they are not used as bulk field sources and have far lower useful external moment.
- Compass - A compass is an instrument that reads direction from a magnetized needle in Earth's field; the needle is a magnet, the instrument is not.
- Which of these neighbouring kinds and how to tell them apart hold for the sense of magnet this model covers, and on what evidence? provenance
Sources
- Magnet - Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation - Object-level definition, common kinds, history (lodestone), everyday uses, and qualitative hazards.
- IEC 60404-8-1, Magnetic materials - Part 8-1: Specifications for individual materials - Magnetically hard materials - International Electrotechnical Commission - Trade classification of hard-magnetic materials, grade designations, and the quantities remanence, coercivity, and (BH)max.
- Coey, J. M. D., Magnetism and Magnetic Materials - Cambridge University Press, 2010 - Physical origin of remanence and coercivity, material families (ferrite, Alnico, SmCo, NdFeB), Curie point, and typical property ranges.
- Guidelines on Limits of Exposure to Static Magnetic Fields - International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP), Health Physics, 2009 - Occupational and public static-field exposure limits relevant to strong magnets and MRI.
- 16 CFR Part 1262, Safety Standard for Magnets - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission - Consumer hazard of small high-powered magnet sets and the flux-index ingestion test used in US product law.
- Dangerous Goods Regulations, UN 2807 Magnetized material - International Air Transport Association / ICAO Technical Instructions - Air-transport classification of magnetized assemblies that can deflect aircraft compasses.
What the second pass must settle
- Does registry scope include electromagnets and hybrid magnetic assemblies, or should those link to neighbouring registered concepts?
- For a magnet assembly, which cores, pole pieces, return paths and housings are integral to this thing rather than its host device?
- Which sources and measurement procedures should establish comparable field and interaction-performance baselines for each magnet type?
- What material- and construction-specific evidence is required to distinguish reversible performance variation from lasting magnetic change?
- Which task-specific sources establish operating limits, defect acceptance criteria and handling or separation requirements?