Is a magnet the same as an electromagnet? Explaining the differences...

What is the principle of a regular magnet?

A classic magnet is usually a bar made of specially produced chemical compounds. They naturally generate a magnetic field, i.e., forces acting on specific objects in their vicinity. As a result of this phenomenon, the magnet attracts most metals (for example, gold and silver are resistant to its action). Some elements naturally have greater properties for attraction, while others require special admixtures of other elements.

What is the specificity of an electromagnet?

An electromagnet requires a current to operate because it works only when there is voltage running through it. Such a device is made up of a metal core and a wound wire called a coil. Copper is commonly used to make the wire, as it is highly conductive. The coil, along with the core, is connected to a voltage source, and as a result, it generates a magnetic field. The strength of the field can be adjusted by the number of wire turns and the current intensity - the more turns and higher current, the stronger the generated field.

Applications of classic magnets in industry and science

Magnets are often used to locate metal objects - whether it's finding tools or retrieving iron shavings from dense fluids. Strong magnets are used to hold many things - in the sawmill industry or, for example, tongs, and at home, kitchen knives. Magnetic locks, as the name suggests, use the appropriate field, just like devices used for magnetic resonance imaging.

Places where electromagnets come in handy

Electric magnets are used where continuous operation of a device would be undesirable. The most common example is an electric bell, present in most schools. In addition to that, temporary operation is indispensable when transporting large metal objects, so electromagnetic cranes are often encountered. Electromagnets are also used in microsurgery - they are particularly useful for wound cleansing.Classic and electric magnets interact with metals and magnetic fields in the same way, but they differ in their mode of operation. Each of them is suitable for different tasks, and it would be hard to imagine daily life without both of them.