Physics Lesson 16.1.5 - Permanent and Temporary Magnets

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Welcome to our Physics lesson on Permanent and Temporary Magnets, this is the fifth lesson of our suite of physics lessons covering the topic of Introduction to Magnetism, you can find links to the other lessons within this tutorial and access additional physics learning resources below this lesson.

Permanent and Temporary Magnets

In the first paragraph, we discussed about natural and artificial magnets. This is a kind of magnets classification but it is not very useful because the overwhelming part of magnets used today are artificial. Therefore, a new classification of magnets based on the ability to preserve the magnetic properties is used. Thus, we classify magnets in permanent and temporary based on their ability to keep the magnetism. Let's take a closer look at these categories of magnets.

Permanent magnets are magnets able to keep their magnetism for a long time. Cast-iron is an alloy that is used to produce permanents magnets. Most of magnets we use today are made from cast-iron. This is why we use these magnets for long periods without noticing any considerable decrease in the magnetic properties. Other materials used to obtain permanent magnets include steel, brass, iron oxide etc.
Temporary magnets are magnets that lose their magnetism very quickly; almost immediately after the electricity supply is removed from them. Iron is an example of a temporary magnetic material. As long as an iron piece is placed inside an electric field, it is magnetised. When we stop the current flow, i.e. when we remove the electric field, the iron piece loses immediately its magnetism. Such a property is used by engineers to produce electromagnets, the magnetism of which is controllable, i.e. we can use them as magnets when needed and remove their magnetism in other moments.

Temporary magnets are also known as soft magnetic materials.

You have reached the end of Physics lesson 16.1.5 Permanent and Temporary Magnets. There are 9 lessons in this physics tutorial covering Introduction to Magnetism, you can access all the lessons from this tutorial below.

More Introduction to Magnetism Lessons and Learning Resources

Magnetism Learning Material
Tutorial ID	Physics Tutorial Title	Revision Notes	Revision Questions
16.1	Introduction to Magnetism
Lesson ID	Physics Lesson Title	Lesson	Video Lesson
16.1.1	A Brief History of Magnetism. Natural and Artificial Magnets
16.1.2	Magnetic Field of Magnets and Earth. Magnetic Poles
16.1.3	Magnetic Field Lines
16.1.4	How is a Magnet Produced?
16.1.5	Permanent and Temporary Magnets
16.1.6	The Earth as a Giant Magnet. Two North Poles.
16.1.7	Magnetosphere
16.1.8	Magnetism in Animals
16.1.9	Magnetism in Use

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Permanant Temporary Feedback. Helps other - Leave a rating for this permanant temporary (see below)
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Magnetism Revision Notes: Introduction to Magnetism. Print the notes so you can revise the key points covered in the physics tutorial for Introduction to Magnetism
Magnetism Practice Questions: Introduction to Magnetism. Test and improve your knowledge of Introduction to Magnetism with example questins and answers
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Continuing learning magnetism - read our next physics tutorial: Magnetic Field Produced by Electric Currents

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