Definitions - magnets and electromagnets

• Magnetic field


  An area where other magnetic objects experience a force of attraction and repulsion
• Magnetic material


  A material that is attracted to a magnet or can be magnetic e.g. iron, nickel, steel, cobalt
• Field line


  An indication of the strength and direction of the magnetic field. The denser the lines the stronger the field.
• Permanent magnet 


  A hard magnetic material that will not lose its magnetism over time
• Hard/soft magnetic material 


  A measure of how quickly a material loses its magnetic properties over time. Soft materials become non-magnetic much faster than hard
• Solenoid


  A coil of wire with electricity running through it. Produces a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet
• Iron core


  The centre of an electromagnet. It boosts the power of a solenoid
• Electromagnet


  A soft iron core wrapped in wire. When current flows through the coil it becomes magnetic