Question

 Demonstrate and describe how each magnet type works. 

Answer 1

An atom consists of a nucleus and electrons, where the electrons revolve/spin around the nucleus thus creating a very small magnetic field. In other words, atoms have a spin, and each spin acts as a small magnet with magnetic north pole and south pole(also called dipole). These dipoles stick together to form a bigger clump called domain. These domains have a net magnetic moment.

  When all the domains in a material align along a direction, they create a net magnetic moment (the material is a magnetic material, and it is a source of a magnetic field.) Now, if these magnetic domains of material are always aligned, then the material is called a permanent magnet.

Magnetic torque acts on the atomic spin if the magnetic force is applied. And because of this torque, the direction of the spins can be changed in certain materials. So, those materials, which were having zero(very small) magnetic moments, generates a large magnetic moment on the application of the magnetic field are called temporary magnets. Before the application of the magnetic field, all the spins in a temporary magnet are randomly aligned thus giving a very small magnetic moment.

Once the magnetic field is removed a permanent magnet's atomic domains will remain aligned and have a strong magnetic field, whereas a temporary magnet's domains will rearrange themselves in a non-aligned manner and have a weak magnetic field.

On the other hand, an electromagnet is also a source of the magnetic field, but it uses a different concept to generate that magnetic field. The magnetic field disappears when the current is turned off. Electromagnets usually consist of wire wound into a coil and current is passed through it.