Question

• Describe in detail two modern applications of electromagnets. Do these electromagnets draw a large amount of current or a little? How do you know? What supplies that current?
• Why do you think electromagnets are used in these different ways?
• What is the advantage of using an electromagnet rather than a permanent magnet?

Answer 1

Nowadays, Electromagnets have both scientific and technological applications. They are being widely used in electronic devices like speakers,headphones, telephones etc. They are even used in magnetic recording and data storage equipments like hard disks, recorders etc.

We are familiar to the fact that electromagnets are based on the principle of electromagnetism, according to which, magnetic field changes with change in the current. So we can say, the strength depends on the electric current. Thus electromagnets require a continuous flow of current to function.

Generators supply with most of the current that we use. Strength of the electromagnet can be easily changed by changing the current. This makes it useful for many purposes.

In permanent magnets, the magnetic strength is fixed and can not be changed with any accordance whereas in electromagnets strength can be change and can be adjusted for different strength levels.

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