Why do magnets not repel when separated by a thin sheet of steel?

Subject: Why do magnets not repel when separated by a thin sheet of steel?

Date: Mon Aug 8 07:09:39 2005
Posted by Charles Saunders
Grade level: undergrad School: No school entered.
City: No city entered. State/Province: No state entered. Country: Canada
Area of science: Physics
ID: 1123502979.Ph

Message:


I know that two magnets when oriented North-North repel each other.  But both 
magnets will attach to a thin sheet of steel at the same time, so that the 
system looks like North-steel-North.  (I did this with two magnets and an 
exacto-blade.)

Why and how does this occur?  What do the "domains" of the steel look like?

Re: Why do magnets not repel when separated by a thin sheet of steel?

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