Electromagnet

• An electromagnet is a temporary strong magnet made from a piece of soft iron by flowing current in a coil wound around it. It is an artificial magnet.
• Ways of increasing the magnetic field of a magnet:

  1. Increasing the number of windings of the solenoid.
  2. Increasing the current flowing through the solenoid.
• A permanent magnet is a naturally occurring magnet.
• Strong permanent magnets are artificially made using steel instead of soft iron.
• Electromagnet:

  1. Made of soft iron
  2. Produces temporary magnetic field
  3. Magnetic field strength can be changed
  4. Polarity can be reversed
  5. Can be easily demagnetized
• Permanent Magnet:

  1. Made of steel
  2. Produces permanent magnetic field
  3. Magnetic field strength can not be changed
  4. Polarity can not be reversed
  5. Can not be easily demagnetised
• Uses of electromagnets:

  • Lifting and transporting heavy iron scrap.
  • Loading furnaces with iron.
  • Removing pieces of iron from wounds.
  • Study magnetic properties of a substance in a magnetic field.