Electromagnet attracting permas

[Shortyski13]

I wired a quick weak electromagnet. How come when I put a small permanent magnet close to it, both sides of the permanent magnet (north and south) are attracted to the same side of the electromagnet?

 

[sophiecentaur]

Hi and welcome
What you saw was a bit hard to understand. If, indeed, the electromagnet was weak and the small permanent magnet was comparatively stronger then your result was interesting but not too uncommon.
The result you got, implies to me that the electromagnet must have an Iron core and your small permanent magnet was inducing its own field in the electromagnet (iron) core. It was attracting it just the same as it would if the electromagnet were turned off (possibly with a bit less force in on orientation).

 

[Shortyski13]

This is what I was thinking was happening. Which leads me to another question, if that is the case: can I make an electromagnet with a non -ferrous core and still have a defined magnetic field shape and still some strength to it?

 

[sophiecentaur]

I think that would be ok as long as you could make a strong enough electromagnet without an iron core.