Understanding Magnet Polarity: Magnetic Confusion

  • Context: High School 
  • Thread starter Thread starter Woodski
  • Start date Start date
  • Tags Tags
    Magnetic
Click For Summary
SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the confusion surrounding the polarity of an electromagnet and a permanent magnet during an experiment. The user constructed an electromagnet using an iron core and insulated copper wire, powered by a transformer from a train set. Despite reversing the current direction, the permanent magnet continued to be attracted, leading to uncertainty about the magnets' polarities. Suggestions included ensuring the current is DC and considering the strength of the permanent magnet compared to the electromagnet.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of electromagnetism principles
  • Knowledge of AC and DC current differences
  • Familiarity with magnetic polarity concepts
  • Experience with basic electrical components, such as transformers
NEXT STEPS
  • Learn about rectifying AC current to DC for electromagnet applications
  • Research the effects of core materials on electromagnet strength
  • Explore the characteristics of permanent magnets and their magnetic fields
  • Investigate methods to test and visualize magnetic fields using iron filings
USEFUL FOR

Students, hobbyists, and educators interested in electromagnetism, electrical engineering, and hands-on experiments with magnets.

Woodski
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
I made myself an electromagnet and did a small experiment involving it and a permanent magnet. When I switched on the electromagnet it attracted the permanent magnet. I made the assumption that they were opposite poles, hence making them attract. However, I changed the current direction of the electromagnet thinking that it would then repel the permanent magnet. However, it also attracted the permanent magent. This has left me highly confused about the polarity of magnets. Can someone please help?
 
Physics news on Phys.org
You should give full details of your experimental setup. It sounds as if you made a mistake with your polarities but without seeing the alignments of magnet and coil one can't be sure what's happening.
 
was the permanent magnet's facing side always the same?
 
The electromagnet is made with am iron core with insulated copper wire wrapped around it. The power source is a transformer from my sons train set. When I move the permanent magnet to the top of the electromagnet it is attracted. If I turn the permanent around so the opposite pole is pointing towards the same end of the electromagnet then there is a bit more buzzing by the electromagnet but again the permanent magnet is attracted to it.
 
Woodski said:
The electromagnet is made with am iron core with insulated copper wire wrapped around it. The power source is a transformer from my sons train set. When I move the permanent magnet to the top of the electromagnet it is attracted. If I turn the permanent around so the opposite pole is pointing towards the same end of the electromagnet then there is a bit more buzzing by the electromagnet but again the permanent magnet is attracted to it.

Umm...Seems like you need to rectify the AC current from the transformer to get a DC current to be able to change the current direction through the electromagnet.
 
Yes, make sure you've got DC. Another possibility is that the permanent magnet is magnitudes stronger than the electro-magnet.
 
I believe the transformer is AC-DC. I guess it is just because the magnitudes of the permanent magnet are stronger. However, I would still have thought that they would have repelled because if you have a strong and weak permanent magnet, they will repel. So I am still confused.
 
Try removing the metal core of the electromagnet. It could have become permanently magnetised.
 

Similar threads

Undergrad Is this analogy between Magnetic Force and Gravitational Force accurate in helping to understand what contributes more to a stronger magnetic force?
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
High School Permanent magnets and energy question
  • · Replies 16 ·
Replies
16
Views
3K
High School Changing magnetic polarity of an electromagnet
  • · Replies 10 ·
Replies
10
Views
3K
High School Magnetic attraction force Question
  • · Replies 7 ·
Replies
7
Views
2K
Graduate PPMT, Magnetic Flux Switch, electro-permanent magnet generator
  • · Replies 8 ·
Replies
8
Views
4K
Graduate Interesting experiment about the attraction between two magnets
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
4K
High School Magnetic fields attracting two disc-shaped magnets
  • · Replies 11 ·
Replies
11
Views
2K
High School Basic Straight Line Permanent Magnet Accelerator
  • · Replies 3 ·
Replies
3
Views
2K
High School Magnetic Fields and Particle Movement: How Do Magnets Affect Electrons?
  • · Replies 1 ·
Replies
1
Views
2K
Graduate Work performed by a magnetic field
  • · Replies 4 ·
Replies
4
Views
10K