Do electromagnets exhibit the same properties of a permanent

In summary, the magnetic fields for permanent magnets and electromagnets are essentially the same and have maximum strengths of about B=1.0-2.0 Webers/m^2. However, the advantage of electromagnets is that they can be used as good transformers due to their ability to follow an applied alternating magnetic field. On the other hand, it is difficult to reverse the polarity of a permanent magnet, requiring a very powerful solenoid to do so.
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Guest432
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I am just curious whether the formulas that apply to 'magnets', such as the formula for the magnetic field of a dipole (as brought up in my previous thread), apply to both electromagnets and permanent magnets, and other types? Is the magnetic fields exhibited by these different forms of magnetism the same?
 
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The magnetic fields for a permanent magnet and an electromagnet are essentially the same. The maximum magnetic field strengths that they have are about the same for both also, but will differ from one material to another=basically in the neighborhood of B=1.0-2.0 Webers/m^2. The electromagnets have the advantage that in many cases these materials can make good transformers where the applied magnetic field from the current in the solenoid is alternating at 60 Hz (actually reversing direction completely at a rate of 60 Hz (60 cycles per second)) and the magnetization follows the applied field in an almost linear fashion. A high quality permanent magnet can not be made to switch back an forth like that. In fact, it is generally quite difficult to reverse the polarity of a good permanent magnet even once with the magnetic field from a solenoid. It takes a very powerful solenoid (very high DC currents) to overcome the field of the permanent magnet and reverse its magnetization. Once the magnetization of a permanent magnet is reversed, the same strong solenoid current in the other direction would be needed to return the permanent magnet to its original state.
 
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Related to Do electromagnets exhibit the same properties of a permanent

Do electromagnets exhibit the same properties of a permanent magnet?

No, electromagnets and permanent magnets have distinct properties. While both have magnetic fields, electromagnets rely on an electric current to generate their magnetic field, while permanent magnets have a fixed magnetic field. Additionally, electromagnets can be turned on and off, while permanent magnets are always magnetic.

Do electromagnets lose their magnetism over time?

Yes, unlike permanent magnets, electromagnets do not retain their magnetism once the electric current is turned off. As the current stops flowing, the magnetic field dissipates, and the electromagnet becomes non-magnetic.

Can the strength of an electromagnet be changed?

Yes, the strength of an electromagnet can be changed by adjusting the amount of current flowing through the wire. The more current that flows, the stronger the magnetic field will be. As the current is decreased, the magnetic field will also weaken.

Can an electromagnet attract and repel objects?

Yes, like permanent magnets, electromagnets can attract and repel objects with opposite and like magnetic poles, respectively. However, this ability is dependent on the presence of an electric current. Without the current, the electromagnet will not exhibit any magnetic properties.

What are the main applications of electromagnets?

Electromagnets have a wide range of applications, including electric motors, generators, MRI machines, speakers, and magnetic levitation trains. They are also used in everyday items such as doorbells, hard drives, and credit cards.

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