Magnets created by the flow of electricity are called what?

Magnets created by the flow of electricity are called what?

• A. Permanent magnets
• B. Temporary magnets
• C. Superconducting magnets
• D. Electromagnets

Answer: (D)

Electric current flowing through a conductor creates a magnetic field, and when that current is passed through a tightly wound coil (often with an iron core) the magnetic effect becomes a strong, controllable magnet. This arrangement is called an electromagnet because its magnetism comes from the flow of electricity and can be turned on or off by starting or stopping the current, and its strength scales with the current and number of turns. Permanent magnets have a fixed field without current, and superconducting magnets are a special, high-current type of electromagnet used in specific applications, but the basic idea described here is electromagnetism produced by flowing current.

Electric current flowing through a conductor creates a magnetic field, and when that current is passed through a tightly wound coil (often with an iron core) the magnetic effect becomes a strong, controllable magnet. This arrangement is called an electromagnet because its magnetism comes from the flow of electricity and can be turned on or off by starting or stopping the current, and its strength scales with the current and number of turns. Permanent magnets have a fixed field without current, and superconducting magnets are a special, high-current type of electromagnet used in specific applications, but the basic idea described here is electromagnetism produced by flowing current.