Differences Between Electromagnet and Permanent Magnet

Almost everyone is aware of the attraction and repulsion of magnets. But what many may not know is how magnets are formed and why they attract or repel each other. 

Magnets work on the magnetic field they produce; the biggest example is the Earth, which keeps solar winds from damaging its protective layers.

An electromagnet is a device that is covered with a magnetic coil. Electric currents pass through the coil to magnetise the inner core. Some examples of electromagnets in daily life are induction cookers and magnetic locks.

On the other hand, a permanent magnet can maintain its magnetic field without external help, such as alnico and ferrites.

What is an electromagnet?

An electromagnet is a device, mostly made of ferromagnetic materials, surrounded by a coil for the electric current to pass and magnetise the core. The electric current can control an electromagnet’s magnetic field.

Magnetism is just one aspect of electromagnetism’s combined phenomenon, which occurs mostly in ferromagnetic materials with a strong attraction toward magnetic fields. Their magnetism can be altered to make permanent magnets, independently producing magnetic fields. A change in any of the components of an electromagnet can alter the magnet’s strength.

Electromagnets are also called non-permanent magnets because their magnetic fields can be altered or influenced by controlling the amount of electric current allowed to pass through them. 

The study of electromagnetic force, which is a form of physical interaction between electrically charged particles, is called electromagnetism. Electromagnetism is responsible for electromagnetic radiation such as light and is one of nature’s four fundamental interactions or forces.

Properties of electromagnets-

The following are some of the magnet’s characteristics:

• The magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials like iron, nickel, and cobalt make them particularly attractive.
• When two opposite poles come into contact, they repel each other.
• A free-floating magnet’s directive property is that it always points north-south.

What is a permanent magnet?

A permanent magnet generates a persistent magnetic field without the help of an external source such as an electric current. Instead, the internal structure generates the magnetic field, wherein both the nucleus and atoms act like tiny magnets. The electrons orbiting around the nucleus create a magnetic field. 

It was discovered centuries ago that particular objects naturally possessed some attraction to the metal iron. 

Permanent magnets retain their magnetism. They’re typically composed of hard materials and are seen in several naturally-occurring minerals such as magnetite.

Although both permanent and non-permanent magnets attract ferrous materials, they have different characteristics, advantages and disadvantages.

Properties of permanent magnets:-

There are some major properties of a permanent magnet that show that a material is a permanent magnet:-

1:- High retentivity:- Magnet should be strong and never lose its attractive property until an external force is applied.

2:- High coercivity:- Its magnetisation should not be affected by extra magnetic fields.

3:- Permanent poles:- A magnet has two poles that are never isolated – that’s why it workes as a compass.

4:- High permeability:- A magnet should always attract a piece of iron and easily magnetise it.

Differences between permanent magnets and electromagnets

Here are the differences between permanent magnets and electromagnets. 

Conclusion

This article explained electromagnets, permanent magnets and their differences. Magnetism was discovered centuries ago because certain natural elements displayed a magnet’s characteristics of attracting and repelling ferromagnetic materials, such as most metals. 

However, the strength of magnets depends on various factors such as temperature, pressure and the magnetic field. Therefore, any change in these variables can alter the magnet’s strength.