Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Practice Test

What type of magnetic field configuration is created by a long cylindrical magnet?

1. Radial

2. Longitudinal

3. Circular

4. Multidirectional

The correct answer is: Longitudinal

A long cylindrical magnet generates a magnetic field configuration characterized by its longitudinal alignment. In this configuration, the magnetic field lines run parallel to the length of the cylinder, emerging from one end of the magnet and entering the other. This results in a magnetic field that is consistent along the length of the magnet. The long cylindrical shape helps demonstrate clear and uniform field lines running from the north pole to the south pole, creating a predictable and stable magnetic environment around the magnet. This longitudinal field is particularly beneficial for various applications, such as in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetic separation processes, where a consistent directional field is required to aid in the movement or alignment of ferromagnetic materials. Other configurations, such as radial, circular, or multidirectional, do not accurately describe the field produced by a long cylindrical magnet. Radial fields often pertain to magnets with a different geometry, such as disk or ring-shaped magnets, where the magnetic lines spread out from a central point. Circular fields are typically found in circular loops of current rather than in long cylindrical magnets. Lastly, multidirectional fields would imply variations in field direction around the object, which doesn’t apply to the defined poles of a cylindrical magnet. Thus, longitudinal is the correct configuration for a long cylindrical