Is there anyway to stop the magnetic field around a magnet

Question

hi, i have a compass(engineer, lensatic) and my friend who was checking it out used a magnet to have fun with it. unfortunately the condition of the magnet he was using was very bad and so some very little particles or shrapnels if you will got detached from the magnet and got stuck in very hard to reach places and the particles are very very very small. is there anyway to get to drop or something, hence my question. it's not in the compass, it just like around it and some few very little holes.

Answer 1

You are approaching the problem from the wrong way.

Get a strong magnet and they will attract the particles.

Answer 2

no ther is not  

Answer 3

No, but you can shield wires that operate a compass by encasing the wires in in a metalic sleeve and ground the sleeve.  

Answer 4

There are several ways to demagnetize a magnet. However, as we are talking about a permanent magnet, this will be more difficult.

A magnet can be destroyed by hammering

This causes the molecules to become arranged at random with the poles pointing in lots of different directions.  Considering you probably don't wanna break your compass, I don't suggest this, and also the pieces of magnet are somewhere in the middle.

Heating a piece of magnetized iron or steel strongly in a flame will demagnetize it.

This causes the molecules to become arranged at random with the poles pointing in lots of different directions. If your compass can take it, and you're sure about it, do this.

I don't know anything else for permanent magnets... and both of these  will or might damage ur compass. Unless you're glued to the thing, or it is a family piece (or similar), I suggest buying a new one - probably cheaper than buying a bunsen burner, too. :]

Answer 5

Try blowing them off with compressed air from your local gas station.

But a compass has a very weak magnet, and I don't see how that could cause the case to attract and hold debris. Could your friend have remagnetized, and possibly ruined the compass? or it's case?

You should never bring a magnet near a compass, it could have it's magnet changed.

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