What is electromagnetism? Merriam-Webster states that “electromagnetism is magnetism developed by a current of electricity.” An alternative definition suggests that electromagnetism is a fundamental physical force that is responsible for interactions between charged particles which occur because of their charge. To fully understand how electromagnetism affects us, it is important to understand the basic foundation of electromagnetism. The field of electromagnetism was only six years old when Henry began teaching at the Albany Academy in New York. Danish scientist Hans Christian Oersted had discovered in 1820 that an electrical current in a wire from a battery caused a nearby compass needle to deflect. The theory has been expanding from that …show more content…
If the wire is long and thin, when a current is sent through the wire a uniform magnetic field forms inside the solenoid. When the electric current flows through the wire the solenoid generates a magnetic field similar to that of a bar magnet. An electromagnet is a magnet whose magnetic properties are produced by an electric current. When the current is switched off, the electromagnet no longer displays magnetic properties. Another definition for electromagnets are solenoids wound around a central iron core. The magnetic field generated by the coil of wire magnetizes the core, increasing the total field. The difference in simple terms: a solenoid is a long, thin helical loop of wire. An electromagnet is a magnet whose magnetic properties depend on an electric current. A solenoid is just a coil of wire, but when you run a current through it, you create an electromagnet. Electromagnets are particularly useful because, unlike regular magnets, they can be switched on and off, and strengthened by increasing the current flowing through them. When you run a current through a solenoid, you get a supper strong magnet because the magnetic field is concentrated inside the coil. Electromagnetic solenoids find uses all over the world. They’re in hotel door locks, water-pressure valves, MRI machines, hard disk drives, speakers, cars, and