A horseshoe magnet is a variety of magnet where the two magnetic poles are on the same level as each other (on the same plane), with an air gap to keep them from creating a closed circuit. This means that there can be a variety of different shaped horseshoe magnets, from cylindrical to the traditional horse’s shoe.
They were originally made to compensate for the weak magnetic field of a bar magnet. By making both ends of the magnet point in the same direction, in a U shape, the strength of the magnet is doubled. This is because the magnetic field lines do not have as far to travel between the two magnetic poles.
Horseshoe magnets are only available in alnico, which is always coated in a traditional red colour. For more information on alnico see pagewhat are magnets made of?
They come in five forms: button, pocket, bridge, power, or channel.
