What is an electromagnet?

• Invented in 1824 by the British physicist William Sturgeon, electromagnets are a fixture of modern life, appearing in loudspeakers, motors, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machines, maglev trains, and particle accelerators.
• When an electric current flows through a wire, it create

Electromagnets

• These are devices that produce a magnetic field when an electric current flows through a coil of wire.
• The magnetic field is concentrated in the hole of the coil.
• The strength of the magnetic field can be controlled by adjusting the electric current. When the current is turned off, the magnetic field disappears.
• Construction and Materials: Electromagnets typically consist of a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetic core made of ferromagnetic materials like iron. The magnetic core enhances the strength of the magnetic field by aligning the magnetic domains within the core.

Applications:

• Electromagnets are used in various industries for tasks like lifting and moving heavy metal objects, sorting materials, and generating motion.
• They are also used in medical settings for imaging and in consumer devices like electric doorbells and card readers.

Prelims takeaway

• Right hand thumb rule