| Magnetic Basics |
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Magnets have been used for several thousand years. Magnets can be either natural or man-made. Magnets are made up of ferromagnetic minerals such as iron are natural magnets. These magnets are often known as loadstone.
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Magnets have two poles one North and one South. |
| The North Pole of the magnet is seen as red and the South Pole is seen as grey. |
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A Magnetic Current or field flows from the North Pole to the South Pole. The current or field also flows through the magnet. Magnetic Domains are where all the charges line up in the same direction. |
| When two magnets are placed with like poles facing each other they repel or push away from each other. -,- or +,+ do not attract! Please Note that the (+) or the (-) do not reflect positive or negative charges, they are for illustration purposes only! |
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When two magnets opposite poles face each other the North Pole and the South Pole are attracted to each other and come together! Opposite -,+ or +,- attract! Please Note that the (+) or the (-) do not reflect positive or negative charges, they are for illustration purposes only! |
Can magnets be destroyed?
Magnets can be demagnetized by several means. Hitting a magnetic over and other will disrupt the alignment of the charges within the magnetic causing the magnet to lose its attraction properties. Magnets can also be destroyed by heating them. The heating of the magnetic material causes a disorientation in the alignment of the magnetic particles because the heating allows movement with the material to flow more easily. When the material cools the alignment still remains unorganized and the magnet has to be magnetized again in order to work.
