Why Do Flexible Fridge Magnets Have Stripes?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do flexible fridge magnets have stripes?

The Big Idea

Flexible fridge magnets have a secret hidden inside them. They are made of rubber mixed with magnetic powder, and they are magnetized in thin stripes. Let's find out why stripes help, and why the magnet only sticks on one side.

Rubber and Powder

Step one: rubber and powder. A flexible magnet is made from rubber mixed with magnetic powder. That is why it can bend and curl without breaking, and why you can cut it with a pair of scissors.

Alternating Stripes

Step two: alternating stripes. In the factory, it is magnetized in thin stripes that alternate north, south, north, south. These stripes are often only a fraction of an inch wide.

Close and Clingy

Step three: close and clingy. The stripes make the field cling close to the surface. So the magnet sticks to the fridge well, but it does not stick to anything on its other side.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Thin stripes alternate in a row. One is north, the next is south. The field stays close to the surface. That makes it cling to the fridge.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! The stripes are often only a fraction of an inch wide. They make the magnet stick well to the fridge. Two sheets feel bumpy when they slide across each other. Flipping one over changes the feeling.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! Slide two flexible magnets across each other. Feel the clicks. Now flip one over. Describe how the feeling changes. Then explain what you learned to a friend.

Outro

Flexible magnets have alternating stripes that make their field cling close to the surface. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!