Definition

1. Noun:
   • A temporary magnet made by coiling wire around an iron core; when current flows in the coil the iron becomes a magnet: An "electromagnet" is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by an electric current. It typically consists of a coil of wire wound around a core of ferromagnetic material like iron. The magnetic effect is present only while electric current flows through the wire.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The junkyard uses a powerful electromagnet to lift and move scrap metal.
  • In the laboratory, we built a simple electromagnet by wrapping copper wire around a nail and connecting it to a battery.
  • The strength of an electromagnet can be controlled by adjusting the electric current.

Advanced Usage

• "To energize/de-energize an electromagnet": To turn the electric current on (making it magnetic) or off (making it non-magnetic).
  • The safety mechanism works by de-energizing the electromagnet, releasing the held object.

Variants and Related Words

• Electromagnetic (adj): Pertaining to or involving electromagnetism, the physics of electric currents and magnetic fields.
  • The electromagnetic force is one of the four fundamental forces.
• Electromagnetism (n): The branch of physics that studies the interaction between electric charges and magnets.
  • He is a professor specializing in electromagnetism.

Synonyms

• Solenoid (with a core): A type of coil that, when wound around a ferromagnetic core, functions as an electromagnet. (Note: A solenoid can be an air-core coil; it specifically becomes an electromagnet when it has a ferromagnetic core to concentrate the magnetic field.)

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Magnetic field: The region around a magnet where magnetic forces can be detected. An electromagnet creates this when energized.
• Ferromagnetic core: The iron or steel core inside the coil that becomes strongly magnetized, enhancing the electromagnet's strength.
• Electric current: The flow of electric charge, which is the source of the magnetic field in an electromagnet.

Noun

1. a temporary magnet made by coiling wire around an iron core; when current flows in the coil the iron becomes a magnet