magnetic lines of force

RoboMastodon

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No, they are more representative of magnetic field lines. Magnetic fields (i.e. the ones associated with ferromagnetism) themselves are usually not waves so there isn't really an interference pattern between the magnetic fields created by the north and south pole but more like a superposition of them.
 
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chilehed

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I had to think about this one for a bit.

An interference pattern involves the superposition of two fields, and the resultant field contains alternating regions of positive and negative values. This is not the case in your example. So I think the answer is "no".

They sure look similar to an interference pattern, though.
 
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Vainglorious

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billwald said:
Are the magenic lines of force that appear when a magnet is put under a glass plate with iron filings actually an interference pattern?

If I understand your question, the pattern you see of filings forming "lines" is because the filing is both attacted to the magnet as well as the induced magnetic field of its neighbouring filings. The filings then join up like little caterpillars. The formation of blank areas is just chaos.

WARNING: Use this answer at your own risk.:cool:
 
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