Magnets are any material that produces a magnetic field that can attract iron, nickel, cobalt, steel, and other ferromagnetic materials. The magnetic field produced by magnets is responsible for their pulling force, however, this field is invisible. Unlike what many people may think of magnets, these materials are incredibly functional and helpful in many ways.
Thanks to them, humans can do some heavy lifting that normally would have been impossible to do. They can be found in many products and machines, from small toys to heavy-weight devices used to pick up large pieces of magnetic materials.
Magnets are used in several industries for different purposes. In this article, we’ll discuss some of the areas that this material is being applied for the good of man. But before we go into those, let us briefly look at some important aspects of magnetism.
3 Ways To Use Magnetic Force For Fishing Magnets
Magnetic Field
The magnetic field is the area around a magnet in which the magnetic force can be felt. They can also be made by moving electric charges. Magnetic fields cannot be seen, but they can be illustrated by magnetic flux. Magnetic flux lines reveal the direction of the field.
It’ll interest you to know that the strength of a magnet depends on the spaces between the lines of the flux. The closer these lines are to each other, the stronger the magnet, and vice versa. To see the magnetic flux lines, place iron filings over a magnet. The iron filings will arrange according to the flux lines.
Polarity
Polarity is used to describe the poles of a magnet. Magnets have two poles which are the North and South poles. When a magnet is suspended, the North pole is the pole that points to the Artic, which is where the earth’s North magnetic pole is. People tend to assume that the earth’s magnetic and geographic poles are the same, however, this is not the case.
The North magnetic pole is different from the North geographical pole. As a matter of fact, the South magnetic pole is actually the pole that is closer to the earth’s north geographic pole.
Magnetic Materials
Objects that persistently produce their own magnetic field are generally called magnets. Most materials produce theirs due to an applied magnetic field; this is known as magnetism. However, some materials can do this on their own.
There are different types of magnetism, and every material exhibits at least one of them. That said, the magnetic behavior of every material varies depending on its structure, especially its electronic configuration. There are three types of materials that some forms of magnetic behavior have been observed in. These include:
- Ferrimagnetic and Ferromagnetic materials such as lodestone, magnetite, iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt.
- Paramagnetic substances such as oxygen, aluminum, and platinum.
- Diamagnetic substances such as water, copper, plastic, and carbon.
Everyday Uses of Magnets
The following are everyday uses of magnets:
In the Home
If we look closely, we will find that there are many magnets in and around our homes. A good place to start would be refrigerators. Thanks to them, we can keep things like bottle openers, pictures, and other small items on refrigerator doors. Many homes even pin their grocery list to the refrigerator with it.
They are also used to make pocket compasses. These compasses have a magnetic needle that shows which way is North. Other objects in the home like washing machines, blenders, and vacuum cleaner all have magnets in them that help their electric motors operate properly. We should also mention our mobile phones, headphones, and doorbells. It can be found in all of these as well.
Mining Industry
Magnets are widely used in the mining industry. In mines, especially coal mines, high-powered magnets are used to recover valuable items and materials that would be impossible to retrieve. Mining companies also make use of drum magnets to separate contaminants from the mined minerals. By doing so, these companies can get the most out of every mineral that is mined.
Robotics
The robotics industry uses some of the most advanced technologies available to mankind today and magnets are extremely useful in this industry. As the use of the material becomes more advanced, they have become easier to use and apply in several projects. They are used to support electronic parts as well as make robots more compact and mobile. They are also used in nanotechnologies and foldable drones, all of which may not have been possible without this material.
Computers and Electronic Gadgets
At least one magnet can be found in every electrical gadget. Computers, televisions, and radios all have at least one that enables their speakers to function. In a speaker, the magnet along with a wire coil converts electronic signals into vibrations which our ears interpret as the sounds we hear. Also, in computers, they are used to store data on hard drives.
Medicine
Magnets are used in medical equipment like Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines. Using powerful magnetic fields, MRIs generate signals that are used to create clear pictures of our organs and bones. But unlike the small ones in our home, the ones used in MRI machines are thousands of times more powerful. Visit https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/146309 to learn more about MRI.
Another use of this material in medicine is in the treatment of cancer. There is a medical procedure for cancer treatment in which a magnetic fluid is injected into the affected area. Once the fluid is successfully injected, a powerful magnet is used to generate heat. This heat kills the cancerous cells without causing any damage to other organs in the body.
Final Thoughts
This one might come as a shock to you, but it is true, there is a fun way to put this material to good use. In magnet fishing, they are used to fish or retrieve metallic objects underwater. Like fishing, the magnet is tied to a special kind of rope and thrown into a lake, stream, or river. After a while, the fisherman pulls it out to see if it has attracted any objects. Participants have been able to retrieve interesting objects like old coins, military badges, safes, and even old guns used in World War II.
