Artificial Magnets

Artificial Magnets

Artificial magnets are produced from magnetic materials. These are generally made by magnetizing iron or steel alloys electrically. These magnets are also produced by striking a magnetic material with magnetite or with other artificial magnets. Depending on their ability to retain their magnetic property, artificial magnets are classified as permanent magnets or temporary magnets.

1. Temporary Magnets

Temporary magnets are produced with the help of an external magnetic field. They lose their magnetic property as soon as the external magnetic field is removed. They are made from soft iron. Soft iron behaves as a magnet under the influence of an external magnetic field produced in a coil of wire carrying a current. But, it loses the magnetic properties as soon as the current is stopped in the circuit. Magnets used in electric bells and cranes are the examples of temporary magnets.

Activity 6

Spread some steel pins on a wooden board and bring an iron nail near them. Are they attracted? Now, make one of the magnetic poles of the bar magnet touch one end of the iron nail. Slide it along its length in one direction slowly till the other end is reached. Repeat the process 20 to 30 times as shown in the diagram. The magnet has to be moved in one direction only. Avoid the swiping of the magnet back and forth. Now, bring the iron nail near the steel pins. What do you notice? The steel pins stick to the iron nail because nail has become a temporary magnet.

Magnetisation is a process in which a substance is made a permanent or temporary magnet by exposing it to an external magnetic field. This is one of the methods to produce artificial magnets.

2. Permanent Magnets

Permanent magnets are artificial magnets that retain their magnetic property even in the absence of an external magnetic field. These magnets are produced from substances like hardened steel and some alloys. The most commonly used permanent magnets are made of ALNICO (An alloy of aluminium, nickel and cobalt). Magnets used in refrigerators, speakers, fridge and magnetic compass are some familiar examples of a permanent magnet. Neodymium magnets are the strongest and the most powerful magnets on the Earth.

Alnico cow magnet is used to attract sharp iron wire and other iron objects that may be ingested by animals while grazing thereby causing damage to their digestive tract.

The magnetic properties of a magnet will be removed from it by the following ways.

* Placing the magnet idle for a long time.

* Continuous hammering of the magnetic substance.

* Dropping the magnet from a height.

* Heating a magnet to a high temperature.

* Passing a variable current in a coil that encloses the magnet.

* Improper storage of the magnet.