Electromagnets

Electromagnets

Electromagnets are made out of a coil of wire. This is more effective in producing a magnetic field than just a wire running straight. This effect can be strengthened by winding a wire tightly around a powerful core made of magnetic material such as Iron.

What are Electromagnets?

In below circuit, when a battery is connected across a solenoid which is wounded around a nail then the nail behaves as magnet, due to the magnetic field produced by the current flowing through the coil. The nail retains its magnetism till there is current flowing through the coil, but once there is no current, the nail loses its magnetism. This type of temporary magnets which are formed by wounding a coil of wire across an iron core is known as Electromagnets.

Electromagnets

The atoms in the nail are oriented in random direction and individual magnetic fields cancel each other out. Under the influence of electric current, there atoms are reoriented to stat pointing in the same direction. All these individual magnetic fields together create a strong magnetic field.

Uses of Electromagnets:

  • Amplifiers
  • Particle Accelerators
  • Magnetic separation
  • MRI machines
  • Transportation
  • Spacecraft propulsion systems
  • Hard drives
  • Induction heating
  • Electric motors and generators.