Sample magnet

A test magnet is an idealized concept that is mainly used in physics to describe electromagnetic fields. It's very similar to the concept of trial charging .

A test magnet is a very small magnet that does not noticeably disturb the magnetic field being observed . So their own magnetic field can be neglected. The magnetic field or the magnetic flux density, for example of a field-generating permanent magnet, is then defined by the force acting on the test magnet (more precisely: its north pole) at this location.

The test magnet is often implemented using a small compass needle or a ferromagnetic material such as iron filings.

Closely related to the concept of the test charge is the concept of the test mass in the area of gravity .

literature

• Horst Kuchling: Pocket book of physics . Fachbuchverlag Leipzig, September 2007, ISBN 978-3-446-41028-2 , p. 440 (accessed on April 28, 2013).
• Herbert Arthur Stuart, Gerhard Klages : Short textbook of physics . Springer, January 1, 2010, ISBN 978-3-540-89046-1 , pp. 164–165 (accessed April 28, 2013).