Magnet Myths Every time you use a computer, you're using magnets. If your home has a doorbell, it probably uses an electromagnet to drive a noisemaker. Magnets are also vital components in CRT televisions, speakers, microphones, generators, transformers, electric motors, burglar alarms, cassette tapes, compasses and car speedometers. In addition to their practical uses, magnets [...]
Why Magnets Stick If you've read How Electromagnets Work, you know that an electrical current moving through a wire creates a magnetic field. Moving electrical charges are responsible for the magnetic field in permanent magnets as well. But a magnet's field doesn't come from a large current traveling through a wire — it comes from [...]
The Details of Making Magnets To make a permanent magnet, all you have to do is encourage the magnetic domains in a piece of metal to point in the same direction. That's what happens when you rub a needle with a magnet — the exposure to the magnetic field encourages the domains to align. Other [...]
The Basics of Making Magnets Many of today's electronic devices require magnets to function. This reliance on magnets is relatively recent, primarily because most modern devices require magnets that are stronger than the ones found in nature. Lodestone, a form of magnetite, is the strongest naturally occurring magnet. It can attract small objects, like paper [...]
Magnetics for Environmental Applications Magnetics, as related to the environmental field, is a technology used for locating subsurface iron, nickel, cobalt and their alloys which are typically referred to as ferrous materials. The theory of magnetics has been adapted to specialized tools called magnetometers which are capable of measuring ambient magnetic fields emanating from terrestrial [...]
What Is a Magnetometer? Learn the basics of magnetometers, including their relation to hysteresis curves and their applications. Magnetometers are devices that can measure the magnitude or direction of a magnetic field. They are present almost everywhere in electronics. They may be as simple as the one that your smartphone uses to detect whether it [...]
Magnetic alloys are alloys engineered to have special magnetic properties. Permalloy Permalloy is the term for a nickel iron magnetic alloy. Generically, it refers to an alloy with about 20% iron and 80% nickel content. Permalloy has a high magnetic permeability, low coercivity, near zero magnetostriction, and significant anisotropic magnetoresistance. The low magnetostriction is critical [...]
Magnet for IoT Internet of Things: Sensors & Sensing What is the Internet of Things (IoT)? Devices, vehicles, home appliances, handheld electronics, thermostats, mobile phones, and sensors…These items are denoted by the word “Things” when referring to the Internet of Things. Basically, The Internet of Things it is an umbrella phrase used to address the [...]
Smartphone Magnetometers - How do smartphones work out what direction they are pointing? Magnetic and gravity field sensors located within your phone. 1. Magnetic and gravity field sensors located within your phone. Smartphone Magnetometers TrueNorth2 Using GPS coordinates of the phone location and a global map of declination angle the required correction angle [...]
What is gaussmeter? Gaussmeter, also known as a magnetometer, is a device used to measure the strength and direction of a magnetic field. Small, hand-held versions are available and the user can carry it with him to monitor magnetic fields as he walks. gaussmeter If the person holding it walks closer to the [...]
Magnetic fields - The strength of a magnetic field is measured in units of Gauss (G), or alternatively, in Tesla (T). In the MKS (metric) system of units, 1 T = 1 kilogram*ampere/second^2 = 10^4 G. magnetic field For comparison, the magnetic field of the earth at the surface is on the order [...]
