Based　on　the　theory　of　magnetic　dipoles,　the　3D　characteristics　of　the　magnetic　potential　energy　of　magnetic　particles　in　a　magnetic　field　were　analyzed,　and　the　interaction　force　formula　between　the　magnetic　particles　was　derived.　Additionally,　the　Velocity　Verlet　algorithm　was　adopted　to　simulate　the　interaction　of　soft　magnetic　particles,　which　were　compared　against　the　observed　2D　dynamic　processes　of　magnetite　particles.　The　observational　results　are　largely　consistent　with　the　simulation,　which　considers　both　the　magnetic　dipole　force　and　the　viscous　resistance　that　occurs　during　the　interaction　of　soft　magnetic　particles.　Nevertheless,　significant　difference　exists　between　the　2D　dynamic　observation　and　the　simulation　for　the　interaction　of　magnetite　particles.　Three　series　of　experiments　and　simulation　show　that　all　the　magnetic　particles　are　arranged　in　chain　structures　and　orientated　along　the　direction　of　the　external　magnetic　field.　Furthermore,　the　results　show　that　the　time　required　for　magnetic　particles　to　form　magnetic　chains　is　negatively　correlated　with　the　intensity　of　the　magnetic　field,　and　positively　correlated　with　the　viscosity　of　the　chosen　medium.　©　2015　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.