Weird Magnetism

[OldFartTom]

A definitely "MISC" one here for you guys.

Pretty much all the tins in my kitchen are magnetic.. or rather... magnetised.

I only noticed because my eldest daughter left a compass on the kitchen counter. I was looking at the needle thinking North isn't that way and I noticed an instant coffee tin about 6 inches (15cm) away, so I thought it's steel it's going to affect the compass.

But then I noticed the needle wasn't pointing towards the tin and not in the correct direction either so I twisted the tin 360 (around vertical axis) and the compass went a full circle too, so it's magnetic. Other cans (beans etc) have a reasonably strong magnetism as well.

Now I don't remember being abducted by Aliens recently or any other everyday explanations, so I'm baffled why steel containers in my kitchen are magnetised.

Does anyone here work in the supply chain for retailers? Is there a normal explanation for why ordinary food product containers are magnetised like this?

[Karl_Hungus]

My guess? Some guys in a factory somewhere were thinking: "Bro, let's magnetize the sh!t out of this cookware to see how long it takes some guy in the O35 misc to ask about it."

Their plan worked. Right now some cookware bros are high-fiving each other.

[mtpockets]

I've seen compasses affected by lots of metals, keys. watches etc... A common mistake is some people taking a reading waist height and the belt buckle throws it off. It deflects the magnetic needle.

We need ElrondHubbard to chime in, I think he's a rockologist or something. He may have something to add. I've heard of some rocks throwing it off too.

[GuyJin]

Your body also carries its own magnetic field.

"I Come In Peace."

Problem--solved.



(For the record, I'm going to go with with Karl said...).

[Mark1T]

My magnetism has been a little weak lately.

Thought I would share that in the Magnetism thread so maybe we can start our own Magnetism Therapy Group. Might help a lot, well, a few people.

Thanks a bunch

[Squid24]

I know I am magnetic.

I always attract people towards me...good ones, bad ones, weird ones...more so the last one...lol

[Cantplankwell]

Keep an eye out for cube van that backs up to peoples houses, it emits a very loud humming noise from the giant magnets inside.

[Mark1T]

I saw a documentary produced by CNET on The Rise of Anti-Magnetism in the US.

I don't care what anyone thinks. I will vote for the first Magnetist Presidential candidate because I am tired of Magnetism prejudice.

[GuyJin]

My magnetism has been a little weak lately.

Thought I would share that in the Magnetism thread so maybe we can start our own Magnetism Therapy Group. Might help a lot, well, a few people.

Thanks a bunch

-------

You do realize what kind of people you're going to attract, don't you?

(Or repel, take your pick).

Yeah, someone had to go there.

[Mark1T]

-------

You do realize what kind of people you're going to attract, don't you?

(Or repel, take your pick).

Yeah, someone had to go there.

Yeah, well maybe the therapy sessions should be online

[DuracellBunny]

Have you blown any fuses/tripped the fuse box recently?

Best guess is that you have an electrical ring main running behind the kitchen wall (that the tins sit next to) and you have had a power surge.

Alternatively, you have an induction oven or hob near to them and you might need to get it checked.

[steffo99]

The poltergeist is getting ready to levitate your stuff.

[OldFartTom]

Have you blown any fuses/tripped the fuse box recently?

Best guess is that you have an electrical ring main running behind the kitchen wall (that the tins sit next to) and you have had a power surge.

Alternatively, you have an induction oven or hob near to them and you might need to get it checked.

I think induction hobs (not that I own anything so fancy) would de-magnatize (degauss) things, but I've no better ideas...

[Squid24]

I saw a documentary produced by CNET on The Rise of Anti-Magnetism in the US.

I don't care what anyone thinks. I will vote for the first Magnetist Presidential candidate because I am tired of Magnetism prejudice.

Here, here!!

[DuracellBunny]

I think induction hobs (not that I own anything so fancy) would de-magnatize (degauss) things, but I've no better ideas...

It depends on the material and the number and proximity of other objects.

Ferromagnetic materials, by definition, can become magnetised permanently, but you don't usually see it in the cookware due to the oscillating field.

But:

In a cramped kitchen, you have secondary (minor) effects, from the cookware to other metal objects and from both the cookware and the hob to the electrical cables in the walls (where the AC oscillates at a different frequency to the hob, setting up interesting effects). The electrical wires are paramagnetic (copper), so they won't get a permanent dipole, but the field from them will be higher when the hob is on and they will have greater ability to create a permanent dipole in ferromagnetic materials nearby.

Hob to pot to tin, or hob to pot to wire to tin, can create a small permanent dipole in the tin. It won't be to such a level that you would notice magnetic effects (the tins certainly won't stick together), but a compass in close proximity would register it.

The magnetic field doesn't need to be very strong at all, to affect a compass at close range.

Edit:
I just had a thought, have you taken Alexa in to the kitchen and stood it on the counter near the coffee tin? It's a stretch, but the speaker could manage it.

[ElrondHubbard]

A definitely "MISC" one here for you guys.

Pretty much all the tins in my kitchen are magnetic.. or rather... magnetised.

I only noticed because my eldest daughter left a compass on the kitchen counter. I was looking at the needle thinking North isn't that way and I noticed an instant coffee tin about 6 inches (15cm) away, so I thought it's steel it's going to affect the compass.

But then I noticed the needle wasn't pointing towards the tin and not in the correct direction either so I twisted the tin 360 (around vertical axis) and the compass went a full circle too, so it's magnetic. Other cans (beans etc) have a reasonably strong magnetism as well.

Now I don't remember being abducted by Aliens recently or any other everyday explanations, so I'm baffled why steel containers in my kitchen are magnetised.

Does anyone here work in the supply chain for retailers? Is there a normal explanation for why ordinary food product containers are magnetised like this?

Somebody mentioned my name...

I think you have to do that three times before my leering visage actually appears before you, but everything’s easier on the internet.

It’s the compass needle that’s magnetized, but metallic iron affects the local magnetic field. There are a lot of things in your kitchen with more iron in them than the food cans, like the refrigerator, the stove, maybe the dishwasher, kitchen sink, iron skillets, all of which might have more influence than the container.

Makes you wonder how iron ships ever navigated with magnetic compasses.

Anyway, can will influence the magnetic field, but not dominate it, so the needle wouldn’t necessarily point directly at it. It will be the only part of that influence that’s moving around, though.

I do see a fair amount of magnetite in certain volcanic rocks, but only in tiny barely-visible grains. I know there are places with massive deposits of it, that make an ore body, but not in my area.

I can pick up bits of it with a magnet, along with fragments of drilling steel, but it’s not enough to influence a compass.

[ElrondHubbard]

-------

You do realize what kind of people you're going to attract, don't you?

(Or repel, take your pick).

Yeah, someone had to go there.

Some people who are bipolar are also dipolar.