![]() ![]() The strength of the magnetic field is also influenced by the magnitude of the current flowing through it to a saturation point (where all atoms/ions in the core are aligned with the magnetic field). But when the iron is coiled inside the copper wire winding, the entire tiny magnet inside the winding core aligns itself in the direction of the magnetic field, thus the electromagnetic effect is stronger, giving us a powerful electromagnet. Inside the iron material, each atom behaves like a natural magnet and since they are in random orientation, the effect of the tiny magnet is cancelled out. A straight line of one winding direction to another is needed, one that starts from the end of the winding to multiple windings. That said, winding the wire in the opposite direction will cancel the effect of previous winding. So the strength of an electromagnet can actually be doubled by doubling the number of turns. Indeed, the strength of the electromagnet is directly proportional to the number of turns in the coil. Multiple windings of the copper wire will further increase the intensity. A magnetic field intensity can be built up by winding the copper wire in a particular direction. When the electric current runs through a straight wire, it creates a magnetic current all around it. In 1830, US scientist Joseph Henry made a more sophisticated electromagnet. Sturgeon also showcased the power of the electromagnet by lifting other iron scraps. Four years later, in 1824, British scientist William Sturgeon invented the electromagnet by using a painted horseshoe-shaped iron piece wrapped around by bare copper wire. In 1820, Danish scientist Hans Christian Oersted demonstrated that each time the electric current flows through the wire, a nearby compass needle deflects. The fact that electromagnets can be polarized and changed just by reversing the poles’ directions also makes them very useful, especially for building electric generators or motors.Įlectromagnets work on the principles of the electromagnetic force, a type of physical interaction that takes place between electrically charged particles. ![]() This is why they are used for collecting scrap (particularly pieces of iron and steel) in scrapyards. This makes electromagnets, also known as temporary magnets, particularly useful, often more than permanent magnets.įor instance, electromagnets can be turned on and off at will and as mentioned earlier, the power of the magnetic field can be controlled. In fact, the strength of the magnetic force can be controlled by controlling the current flow. The key difference between an electromagnet and a permanent magnet is that an electromagnet has a magnetic attraction towards other metallic objects only when a current runs through it. Directive propertyĪ freely suspended electromagnet always points in the north-south direction. Like poles of electromagnets repel each other while their unlike poles attract each other. The magnetic field strength, in turn, is expressed as the vector H and is measured in units of amperes per meter.Įlectromagnets exhibit a few properties as shared below: Attractive propertyĮlectromagnets attract ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel and cobalt. The magnetic field thus created can be even stronger if one winds a wire tightly around a powerful iron core, since iron itself is a magnetic material. A current runs through the coil of wire building a magnetic field that is concentrated in the hole, indicating the center of the coil. Electromagnets are made up of wire wound into a coil. In this blog post, we shall take a look at what an electromagnet is, how it functions, its varied applications, and advantages and disadvantages.Īn electromagnet is a type of magnet where the magnetic field is produced by an electric current. ![]() What is an electromagnet? We may have come across this term often and it is also well known that electromagnets are used widely in modern technology, including everyday devices and appliances. ![]()
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