Types Of Magnets And Their Uses

Often overlooked and underappreciated, magnets are an extremely useful part of everyday life. A magnet is any object that generates its own magnetic field, or a magnetically charged area around the object. Permanent magnets, also known as hard magnets, create magnetic fields and react to other magnetic fields. Similarly, some objects that are not technically magnets react to magnetic fields as well, taking on temporary magnetic properties. Such temporary (or soft) magnetic objects, like nails, paper clips, and anything containing iron, are called ferrous objects.

Permanent magnets, like the ones you use on your refrigerator door, produce a continuous and unbroken magnetism. Without interruption, they will remain attached to the refrigerator on their own. The only way to break the hold is to break it yourself purposefully. For this reason, this type of magnet is used in a variety of household products that you probably use every day. Permanent magnets are found in cars, computer disk drives, jewelry fasteners, speakers, and even credit cards work by means of permanent magnets.

The ability of ferrous objects to take on magnetic qualities can be just as useful as permanent magnets themselves. Temporary magnets are only magnetic when they encounter an already present magnetic field. Once removed from the field, the magnetic properties disappear and the object will no longer act as a magnet if paired with another ferrous object. The use of hard and soft magnets together gives one the ability to control the magnetism if necessary. Telephones make effective use of temporary magnetic properties. The convenience of temporary magnetic properties is also often used in handiwork situations. For instance, if you drop a screw down into a dark, tight space, you may use a magnet to retrieve it quickly and easily.

Electromagnets are a subcategory of temporary magnets. Electromagnets use an adjustable electrical current, which travels through wire coils to produce magnetic fields of varying degrees. This type of magnet relies on electricity to produce any kind of magnetic properties. By simply presenting or removing the source of electricity as well as changing the strength of the electricity presented, the user can control the magnetic properties in order to fulfill specific purposes and needs. For example, electromagnets are used in different types of motors, industrial heavy lifting/separating machinery, and MRI machines.


Magnets are a larger part of life than most people may realize. Both temporary and permanent magnets are used to create functional commodities and handy daily conveniences. Without magnets of all types, many of the simple things people take for granted would not work as they do today, if at all. Magnets of all types and strengths are available for purchase, so you can experiment on your own with their different properties and uses.

About Permanent Magnets

Magnets play an important role in our lives. It is an essential component in making electric motors and generators which in turn power computers, lights, appliances, television and other devices. Magnets are also used in industrial applications and transportation. There are two main types of magnets, ordinary magnets and permanent magnets. Ordinary magnets demagnetize after a certain period of time. This means that ordinary magnets lose its magnetic properties as time goes by. On the other hand, a permanent magnet is a type of magnet that never loses its magnetic properties. Permanent magnets are used in elevators, roller coasters and magnetic trains.

There are magnets that are manufactured and magnets that are by its nature, already has magnetic properties. One good example of this is Lodestone. Lodestone is a type of iron order that inherently attracts iron. Lodestones are abundant in the Greek city, Magnesia, hence the name. Early civilizations from India and Greece used magnets for navigation. Nowadays, you can find magnets in stereo speakers, hard disc drives, computer monitors, industrial tools, telephones and just about anything. It can be said that our world would have been so different if magnets were not discovered.

Permanent magnets are classified into various categories from ceramic, rare-earth, injection-molded, Nano magnets, Alnico, Flexible, Chain magnets and Single molecule magnets. Ceramic magnets are brittle and needs a special coating so as to be used in various applications. Instead of using ceramic magnets, most manufacturers prefer rare-earth magnets since it is superior in many ways compared to ceramic magnets. However, on disadvantage of using a rare-earth magnet is that it easily corrodes. Flexible and injection-molded magnets are used in printing presses in various manufacturing applications. On the other hand, a Nano-magnet is a state-of-the-art magnet which uses energy waves to attract metals.

More and more permanent, or artificial, magnets are preferred over natural or ordinary magnets nowadays for various reasons. Artificial magnets are more powerful than natural magnets. Artificial magnets are also versatile. You can easily manufacture a magnet with your desired drawing power. Artificial magnets are made by exposing a heated metal sheet to alternating magnetic fields. Most magnets that are sold at hardware stores are artificial magnets


Scientists are continuously doing research on more applications of magnets. Recent breakthroughs reveal that magnets can be used for medical purposes such as treatment for headache, liver problems, paralysis, kidney problems, amnesia, backache and other ailments. Unlike other technological breakthroughs such as Wi-Fi, mobile phone grids and High-voltage electric grids which purportedly increase our risk of developing cancer, using magnets for the body has no major disadvantage.  The only risk in using magnets for medical purposes is when you use it to people with pacemakers since magnets interfere with the functions of the pacemaker.