Magnetic Strips On Buses: How Do They Work?

how do paper magnetic strips work on the bus

Magnetic strips, also known as magstripes, are commonly used on public transport systems as tickets. These strips are made of tiny iron-based particles that can be magnetised in different directions to encode information. When swiped, the magnetic strip creates a change in magnetic flux, which induces an electromotive force, resulting in a potential difference that can be read by a computer. This technology was first used in the 1960s by the London Transit Authority for the London Underground, and has since been adopted worldwide for various applications, including financial services, travel, and identification.

Characteristics Values
Composition Metal (iron oxide or barium ferrite) ground into a fine powder and combined with a plastic-type material
Magnetism Tiny iron-based particles magnetized in different directions
Function Store information
Use cases Credit cards, identity cards, transportation tickets, access cards, phone cards, health cards
Reading mechanism Swipe card past a magnetic reading head
Data storage Up to three tracks, each 0.110 inches (2.8 mm) wide
Track 1 Account number, cardholder's name, expiration date, other relevant information
Track 2 Copy of Track 1 without the cardholder's name, service code for security functions
Track 3 Rarely used but can store any necessary information

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Magnetic strips are made of tiny iron-based particles that can be magnetised in different directions

Magnetic strips, commonly found on credit cards, identity cards, and transportation tickets, are made of tiny iron-based particles that can be magnetised in different directions. This magnetic strip is then pasted onto a plastic card.

The process of magnetisation is done by a solenoid, which is essentially a wire coil that is wound around a metallic core. When a current is passed through the solenoid, it produces a strong magnetic field, which in turn creates an induced magnetic field inside the centre of the coils.

By running the current in one direction, a magnetic alignment is created on the stripe. To store data on the card, however, the current in the solenoid must alternate in opposite directions quickly, creating varying opposite magnetic field alignments in very small areas and in very short amounts of time. This process of flipping the magnetic field on the stripe is what "encodes" or "writes" information onto the magnetic strip.

Each magnetic strip on a card is encoded with specific information. The information on the card is made up of thousands of tiny iron-based particles that have been magnetised in different directions, producing an almost infinite number of combinations.

Magnetic strips are commonly used in the transportation sector, including for bus tickets, to store data such as the ticket issuer, ticket type, dates of validity, and limits of use.

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The magnetised particles are encoded with specific information

The magnetic strip on a card is made of tiny iron-based particles that are magnetised in different directions by a device that produces a strong magnetic field. This device is called a solenoid, which is a coil of wire that creates a change in magnetic flux, thereby creating an induced magnetic field inside the centre of its coils.

The magnetic strip is not technically magnetic. It is made of an oxide material that can be configured by magnets to hold information in the form of bits. This is the same principle as tape recorders. The strip is made of very small magnetic particles (20 millionths of an inch). Each particle acts as a tiny bar magnet, and because they are aligned in a North-South direction, the entire stripe is a bar magnet.

When the magnetic stripe is placed in a very strong external magnetic field of the opposite polarity, the polarity of the particle(s) on the stripe is flipped. This action of flipping the magnetic field on the stripe is what "encoding" information is. The process of encoding is done by a solenoid, which has the ability to produce an extremely strong magnetic field in a very small area.

To store data on the card, the current in the solenoid must alternate in opposite directions very quickly, so varying opposite magnetic field alignments are created in very small areas, in very short amounts of time. So, instead of having a stripe with no data (particles aligned North-South), the solenoid creates a difference in magnetic alignment (particles aligned North-North-South-South-North-North). The North-South poles of the particles in the strip are reversed, and now data can be stored in binary code (1s and 0s).

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The magnetic strip is read by swiping it past a magnetic reading head

Magnetic strips, also known as magstripes, are commonly used in public transport tickets, credit cards, identity cards, and hotel room key cards. They are made of tiny iron-based particles that can be magnetized in different directions by a device that produces a strong magnetic field. This process of magnetization allows the magnetic strip to store information.

When a card with a magnetic strip is swiped, it is moved back and forth over a 'reader head' or 'reading head'. This induces a voltage in the coils of the card reader device, which can then be amplified and recorded electronically. This voltage is then read by a computer or a processor installed within the reader, which authenticates the user or transaction. This process is based on Faraday's Law of Electromagnetic Induction, which states that a changing magnetic field in a given amount of time produces voltage, which can then create a current in a pickup coil.

The magnetic strip on a card typically contains two or three data tracks, with each track containing specific information. Track one usually stores the account number, cardholder's name, expiration date, and other relevant details. Track two, developed by the banking industry, stores a copy of the first track but omits the cardholder's name and includes a service code for security functions. The third track is rarely used but can be loaded with additional information if needed.

Magnetic strips have been widely used for several decades, with the first official documented use in the early 1960s by the London Transit Authority for the London Underground. Since then, magnetic strip technology has become prevalent in various markets, including financial services, travel, transportation, health insurance, and education.

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The magnetic strip is not magnetic, but made of oxide material configured by magnets

The magnetic strip on a bus ticket is not inherently magnetic. It is made of oxide material, which is configured by magnets to hold information. This is achieved by using a device that produces a strong magnetic field to magnetize the oxide material in different directions. This process is similar to the way information is stored on magnetic tape, such as in audio cassettes or videotapes.

The magnetic strip on a bus ticket is typically made of tiny iron-based particles that can be magnetized. These particles are embedded in a strip of material, usually glued to the ticket. When the ticket is issued, information such as the station of purchase, date, time, and operator is written to the stripe. This data is then read and validated when the ticket is swiped or scanned.

The principle behind the magnetic strip on a bus ticket is similar to that of audio cassettes. The strip is coated with particles that can be magnetized, creating a series of magnetic stripes perpendicular to its length. These stripes have different orientations, with some having their north pole on top and others having their south pole on top. The width of these stripes varies, and they can be read by a "read head" in a card reader, which senses the changes in the direction of the tiny magnets.

The use of magnetic strips on bus tickets offers several benefits. It allows for automation in fare collection and inspection, making it convenient to calculate and deduct fares. It also enables the storage of a wide range of fare products on the same ticket medium. Additionally, the technology is widely used and supported by international standards, providing a reasonable level of security.

However, there are also some cautions to consider. The machines required for issuing and reading magnetic-stripe tickets can be costly to purchase and maintain due to their complex electronics and moving parts. Additionally, the supply and control of ticket stock need to be carefully managed to prevent fraudulent production on a large scale.

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The first magnetic stripe cards were created in the 1960s

Magnetic stripes are made of tiny iron-based components whose magnetism can be modified and used to store information. The stripes are encoded with specific information by a device that produces a strong magnetic field, typically a solenoid. This device writes the required information onto the stripe, which is then pasted onto a plastic card. The magnetic stripe technology developed by IBM was adopted as a US standard in 1969 and as an international standard in 1971.

Magnetic stripe cards have become widely used for various purposes, including credit and debit cards, identity cards, and transportation tickets. They typically contain two or three data tracks, each containing specific information. Track one usually stores the account number, cardholder's name, expiration date, and other relevant details. Track two, developed by the banking industry, stores a copy of the first track without the cardholder's name and includes a service code for security functions. The third track is rarely used but can be loaded with additional information if needed.

While magnetic stripe cards have been partially replaced by chip-enabled cards and mobile phones, they remain in high demand due to their low cost, reliability, and the extensive global network of card readers.

Frequently asked questions

Paper magnetic strips are thin layers of magnetized material that store information. They are commonly used on bus tickets as well as credit cards, identity cards, and other transportation tickets.

The magnetic strips are encoded with information by a device that produces a strong magnetic field. This information is then read by a magnetic reading head.

The data on the strips includes information such as the ticket issuer, ticket type, dates of validity, limits of use, and transfer permissions.

Paper magnetic strips are reasonably secure, but the technology required to replicate them is readily available, and fraudulent production on a large scale is possible.

Yes, smart cards are a newer generation of card that contain an integrated circuit. These cards are more secure and have broader information-carrying capacities.

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