Technical Keyword Definition: Electromagnet

Eric Palacios

California State University, Fullerton

ENGL 360

Dr. Leslie Bruce

September 28, 2020

Overview

An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is generated by an

electrical current. This is contrary to permanent magnets such as bar magnets or refrigerator

magnets which do not require constant electrical input. While the need for electrical current may

seem like a hindrance, electromagnets are critical to the function of numerous modern

technologies such as electrical generators, loudspeakers, and MRI machines. In fact, the Earth

itself can be described as one giant electromagnet as the constant movement of molten metal

below the surface generates an electrical current which then creates Earth’s magnetic field

(NASA, n.d.).

Physical Properties

The core of an electromagnet’s existence lies in the physical connection between

electricity and magnetism. In reality, they are two aspects of the same fundamental field, known

as the electromagnetic (EM) field (Nagaosa, 2012). Their existences are also intertwined - a

fluctuating magnetic field creates an electric field and a fluctuating electric field (e.g. current in a

wire) creates a magnetic field (Northwestern University, 2012). This relationship is just as

fundamental as the fact that any physical body with mass is attracted to any other body with

mass via gravitational force

A Simple Experiment

Despite this apparent complexity, creating a functional electromagnet is not a very

involved affair. One experiment that may be done at home is taking a piece of insulated electrical

wire and coiling it around an iron nail, then attaching both ends of the wire to a battery.
 Fig 1​ Illustrated Representation of
Basic Iron Nail Electromagnet
This coil configuration is useful for generating a reasonably

strong magnetic field that can pick up paperclips and other

small metal objects. The reason for this lies in the fact that the

shape and strength of a magnetic field is highly dependent on

the shape of the wire.

(HowStuffWorks)

Common Electromagnetic Shapes

In principle, a simple straight line of wire with an electric current running through it is

enough to generate a magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field in any location is then

given by what is colloquially known as the “Right Hand Rule” (Buffalo State University, n.d.).

A thumb pointed in the direction of the electric current flowing through the wire corresponds to

fingers curled in the direction of the magnetic field as shown below.

Figure 2 Figure 3
Right Hand Rule Iron Filings Forming Concentric Rings About a
Current-Carrying Wire

(University of Alicante) (MIT)

This rule of thumb always works at every angle because it exploits the asymmetry of the human

hand - if one’s right thumb is pointing up, one’s fingers cannot curl to the right.

Unfortunately, this straight line arrangement is not a very optimal shape for generating

strong magnetic fields as the field is spread out throughout the entire length of the wire. Twisting

the wire into a loop increases the strength of the magnetic field by concentrating it on the inside

of the ring. The magnetic field then looks like this:

Figure 4 Figure 5
Diagram of magnetic field through a loop Iron Filings Forming Concentric Rings About a
Current-Carrying Wire

(Hyperphysics) (MIT)

The right hand rule still holds true for this shape, with all the field lines on the inside of the loop

pointing in the same direction.

The last typical electromagnetic configuration, and the one first discussed by this

document, is a spiral called a solenoid. It is very similar to a loop except for the fact that there

are multiple loops stacked upon one another. Each additional loop linearly increases the strength
 of the magnetic field (i.e, two loops are twice as strong as one loop, three loops are three times as

strong as one, etc). It creates a powerful even magnetic field throughout the entire length of the

cylindrical coil as shown below.

Figure 6 Figure 7
Diagram of a Magnetic Field Through a Solenoid Iron Filings Demonstrating Magnetic Field Through a Solenoid

(Mini Physics) (MIT)

Applications

Of course, electromagnets are sought after outside of physics classrooms as they offer a

wide array of practical uses. The fact that they can be switched on and off, along with their

adjustable strengths, make them powerful tools.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines are one of the most well known uses for

electromagnets in medicine. More specifically, modern MRI machines use superconducting

(very low temperature) electromagnets to produce extremely powerful magnetic fields. These

magnetic fields provide crucial information about the inside of a patient through the way they are

disrupted by that patient’s body. The benefit of using electromagnets in this case is two-fold.

First, permanent magnets in the context of MRI procedures are extremely large, heavy, and of

low strength (IMAIOS, n.d.). While an electromagnet fixes the issues of heft and weakness, it

creates a new issue of needing a large amount of electricity. This is where the superconducting

aspect comes into play - wires lose all resistance to electrical current at very low temperatures
and thus require far less current for equally strong magnetic fields (Tilakaratna, 2020). This

superconducting design is now the primary design used in clinics.

Surround sound systems, headphones, earbuds, and everything in between are essentially

all variations of the basic loudspeaker design, a design which implements both electromagnets

and permanent magnets. Sound is a wave, so therefore the primary function of a loudspeaker is

Figure 7
Diagram of a Loudspeaker
to vibrate and make waves. This is done by

placing an electromagnetic coil inside of a

permanent magnet. The coil receives a

fluctuating electrical current that matches

the frequency of the desired sound wave.

Then, the interaction between the magnetic

field of the coil and the permanent magnet

creates either an attractive or repulsive force

depending on the input. Finally, this force is

what vibrates the cone of the speaker,

causing a sound to be produced (BBC, n.d.).

(BBC)

Though the applications of electromagnets go far beyond the two technologies discussed

here, these examples should provide a basic understanding of some practical uses in

contemporary technology.
 References

Buffalo State University (n.d.). Right Hand Rule. Retrieved September 28, 2020, from

https://web.ua.es/docivis/magnet/righthand_rule.html

British Broadcasting Corporation (n.d.). Loudspeakers and headphones. Retrieved September 29,

2020, from https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zc3dxfr/revision/5

Diagram of a Magnetic Field Through a Solenoid.​ Mini Physics.

https://www.miniphysics.com/ss-magnetic-field-due-to-current-in-a-solenoid.html.

Illustrated Representation of Basic Iron Nail Electromagnet.​ (2000). HowStuffWorks.

https://science.howstuffworks.com/electromagnet.htm.

IMAIOS. (n.d.). MRI Magnets. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from

https://www.imaios.com/en/e-Courses/e-MRI/MRI-instrumentation-and-MRI-safety/Mag

nets

MIT. ​Iron Filings Demonstrating Magnetic Field About Wire Loop.​ TSG@MIT Physics.

http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=G%2013&show=0.

MIT. ​Iron Filings Demonstrating Magnetic Field Through a Solenoid.​ TSG@MIT Physics.

http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=G%2016&show=0.

MIT. ​Iron Filings Forming Concentric Rings About a Current-Carrying Wire.​ TSG@MIT

Physics.

http://tsgphysics.mit.edu/front/?page=demo.php&letnum=G%2012&show=0.

Nagaosa, N., & Tokura, Y. (2012). Emergent electromagnetism in solids [Abstract]. ​Physica

Scripta, T146.​ doi:10.1088/0031-8949/2012/t146/014020

NASA (n.d.). Earth's Magnetic Field and its Changes in Time. Retrieved September 25, 2020,

from https://image.gsfc.nasa.gov/poetry/tour/AAmag.html
Taylor, D. (2012). Electricity & Magnetism. Retrieved September 23, 2020, from

https://faculty.wcas.northwestern.edu/~infocom/Ideas/electric.html

Tilakaratna, P. (2020, September 27). How Magnetic Resonance Imaging works explained

simply. Retrieved September 29, 2020, from

https://www.howequipmentworks.com/mri_basics/

University of Alicante. (2008). ​Right Hand Rule.​ Right-hand rule.

https://web.ua.es/docivis/magnet/righthand_rule.html.
Postwrite

In terms of Markel’s Definition strategies, I made sure to use a sentence definition as my

first sentence as that seemed to be most effective. In my second sentence, I use the strategy of

negation to differentiate electromagnets from magnets, which may initially seem very similar to

unfamiliar readers. I use graphics throughout the middle section of my definition to give the

reader visuals on the “ideal” magnetic fields and the real fields as demonstrated by iron filings. I

also use the strategy of partition in this section to break down the common types of

electromagnets by increasing complexity. Finally, I use examples of electromagnets in

technology to make the reader more aware of the significance of my keyword.