M AGNETISM AND E LECTROMAGNETISM

Reed relays are superior to armature relays in that they are faster, more reliable, and pro-
duce less contact arcing. However, they have less current-handling capability than armature
relays and are more susceptible to mechanical shock.

The Speaker
A speaker is an electromagnetic device that converts electrical signals into sound. Essen-
tially, it is a linear motor that alternately attracts and repels an electromagnet to and from a
permanent magnet called a donut magnet. Figure 21 shows the key parts of a speaker.
The audio signal is connected using very flexible wires to a cylindrical coil called the voice
coil. The voice coil and its movable core form an electromagnet, which is suspended in an
accordion-like structure called the spider. The spider acts like an accordion spring, keeping
the voice coil in the center and restoring it to the rest position when there is no input signal.
Current from the audio input alternates back and forth and powers the electromagnet;
when there is more current, the attraction or repulsion is greater. When the input current re-
verses direction, the polarity of the electromagnet reverses direction also, faithfully fol-
lowing the input signal. The voice coil and its moving magnet are firmly attached to the
cone. The cone is a flexible diaphragm that vibrates to produce sound.

䊳 FIGURE 21 Frame
Key parts of a speaker (cutaway Spider
view). Cone
Donut
magnet

Voice coil
(moves with
audio input)

Audio input
terminals

Suspension

Meter Movement
The d’Arsonval meter movement is the most common type used in analog multimeters. In
this type of meter movement, the pointer is deflected in proportion to the amount of current
through a coil. Figure 22 shows a basic d’Arsonval meter movement. It consists of a

䊳 FIGURE 22
The basic d’Arsonval meter
movement.
0

Coil
wires Meter scale

Pointer
Rotating coil assembly
I
I

Permanent
magnet

Pivot S
shaft Jeweled
bearing mounts