What are magnets and how do they work. How does Earth’s magnetic field affect compasses. What is the connection between electricity and magnetism. How are electromagnets used in everyday life.
The Fundamentals of Magnets: Poles, Fields, and Attraction
Magnets are fascinating objects that have captivated human curiosity for centuries. They are rocks or metals that generate an invisible field around themselves, capable of attracting other magnets and certain metals. This invisible force is known as a magnetic field, and it’s most concentrated at the ends of magnets, called poles.
Every magnet has two poles: a north pole and a south pole. The interaction between these poles gives rise to the magnetic forces we observe. When opposite poles (north and south) are brought near each other, they attract. Conversely, when like poles (north and north or south and south) are placed close together, they repel each other.
Natural and Induced Magnetism
Some materials, such as lodestone (a rock rich in iron), are naturally magnetic. However, certain metals can also become magnetic through a process called magnetization. This occurs when non-magnetic materials like iron, cobalt, or nickel are exposed to a magnetic field, causing their atoms to align and create a magnetic force.
Earth as a Giant Magnet: Understanding the Magnetosphere
Our planet Earth is, in fact, a colossal magnet. This is due to its core, which consists primarily of iron. The Earth’s magnetic field, known as the magnetosphere, extends far beyond the planet’s surface and into space. This field is strongest near the Earth’s North and South Poles.
The Earth’s magnetic properties have profound implications for navigation and various natural phenomena. For instance, the functionality of a compass is directly related to the Earth’s magnetic field. A compass needle is itself a small magnet that sits on a pivot. The south pole of the compass needle is attracted to Earth’s magnetic North Pole, which is why a compass always points north.
The Atomic Basis of Magnetism: Electrons and Magnetic Fields
To understand how magnets work at a fundamental level, we need to delve into the atomic structure of matter. All objects in the universe are composed of atoms, each with a nucleus at its center and electrons orbiting around it. These orbiting electrons create tiny magnetic fields.
Magnetism occurs when the electrons in an object spin in the same direction. As these individual magnetic forces from each electron add up, they transform the entire object into a magnet. This alignment of electron spins is what gives magnetic materials their unique properties.
The Discovery of Magnetism
The ancient Greeks were among the first to discover lodestones and observe their magnetic properties. For centuries, magnetism seemed almost magical due to its invisible nature. However, over the past hundred years, scientists have made significant strides in understanding the underlying principles of magnetism.
Electromagnetism: The Bridge Between Electricity and Magnetism
The flow of electrons, known as electricity, is intimately connected to magnetism. As electrons move through a wire, they generate a magnetic field. This relationship between electricity and magnetism is so fundamental that scientists now consider them to be two aspects of a single force: the electromagnetic force.
The discovery of electromagnetism is credited to Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted in 1820. This breakthrough led to significant advancements in technology and our understanding of the physical world.
Creating Electromagnets
Following Oersted’s discovery, scientists developed a method to produce magnets by sending electricity through a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetic material, typically iron. These man-made magnets are called electromagnets.
Electromagnets have a unique advantage over permanent magnets: their strength can be varied. The magnetic force of an electromagnet depends on two main factors:
- The size of the electric current flowing through the wire
- The number of times the wire is coiled around the core
By adjusting these factors, scientists and engineers can create electromagnets of varying strengths for different applications. For example, powerful electromagnets are used in junkyards to lift and move heavy metal objects like cars.
Applications of Magnets and Electromagnets in Daily Life
Magnets and electromagnets have become integral to many aspects of our modern world. They are found in a wide range of devices and technologies that we use every day.
Navigation and Transportation
Compasses, which rely on Earth’s magnetic field, have been used for navigation for centuries. In modern times, magnetic technologies have been incorporated into more advanced navigation systems.
High-speed trains, such as maglev (magnetic levitation) trains, use powerful electromagnets to achieve levitation and propulsion. These trains can reach incredible speeds with minimal friction, offering a glimpse into the future of transportation.
Home Appliances and Electronics
Many household appliances and electronic devices utilize magnets or electromagnets in their operation. For instance:
- Refrigerators often use magnets to keep their doors sealed
- Electric fans use electromagnets in their motors
- Speakers and headphones use electromagnets to convert electrical signals into sound waves
- Hard disk drives in computers use magnets to store and retrieve data
Industrial and Scientific Applications
In industry and scientific research, magnets and electromagnets play crucial roles:
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines use powerful magnets to create detailed images of the human body
- Particle accelerators use electromagnets to guide and accelerate subatomic particles
- Recycling facilities use electromagnets to separate magnetic materials from other waste
- Geologists use magnetometers to study Earth’s magnetic field and locate mineral deposits
The Future of Magnetic Technologies
As our understanding of magnetism and electromagnetism continues to grow, so does the potential for new and innovative applications. Researchers are exploring ways to harness magnetic properties for various purposes, from improving energy storage to developing new medical treatments.
Magnetic Energy Storage
Scientists are investigating the use of superconducting magnets for energy storage. These systems, known as Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage (SMES), could potentially store large amounts of electrical energy with minimal losses, providing a more efficient alternative to traditional batteries.
Magnetic Refrigeration
Magnetic refrigeration is an emerging technology that uses changing magnetic fields to cool objects. This method could potentially be more energy-efficient and environmentally friendly than conventional refrigeration techniques that rely on compression and expansion of gases.
Advances in Medical Applications
The medical field is exploring various applications of magnetism, including:
- Magnetic nanoparticles for targeted drug delivery
- Magnetoencephalography (MEG) for brain imaging
- Magnetic hyperthermia for cancer treatment
These emerging technologies demonstrate the ongoing importance of magnetic research and its potential to revolutionize various aspects of our lives.
Challenges and Limitations in Magnetic Technologies
Despite the numerous applications and potential of magnetic technologies, there are challenges and limitations that researchers and engineers must address.
Material Limitations
The strength and durability of magnets depend on the materials used to create them. Researchers are continually searching for new materials that can produce stronger and more stable magnetic fields, especially at higher temperatures.
Energy Consumption
While electromagnets offer flexibility in terms of strength control, they require a constant supply of electricity to maintain their magnetic field. This energy consumption can be significant for large-scale applications, prompting the need for more energy-efficient designs.
Interference and Shielding
Magnetic fields can interfere with sensitive electronic equipment. As our reliance on electronic devices grows, so does the need for effective magnetic shielding techniques to protect against unwanted interference.
The Impact of Magnets on Our Understanding of the Universe
Beyond their practical applications, magnets and magnetic fields play a crucial role in our understanding of the universe. The study of magnetism has contributed significantly to various fields of physics and astronomy.
Stellar Magnetism
Many stars, including our Sun, generate magnetic fields through the movement of charged particles in their interiors. These magnetic fields influence stellar behavior and can lead to phenomena such as sunspots and solar flares.
Galactic Magnetic Fields
On an even larger scale, entire galaxies possess magnetic fields. These fields influence the movement of charged particles and play a role in star formation and the evolution of galaxies.
Magnetars: Nature’s Most Powerful Magnets
Magnetars are a type of neutron star with incredibly strong magnetic fields, billions of times stronger than any magnet on Earth. Studying these extreme objects helps scientists push the boundaries of our understanding of magnetism and the laws of physics.
The study of magnets and magnetic fields continues to be a rich area of research, offering insights into the fundamental forces that shape our universe. From the tiniest subatomic particles to the largest structures in the cosmos, magnetism plays a crucial role in the mechanics of our world and beyond.
TIME for Kids | What Are Magnets?
What do compasses, fans, and high-speed trains have in common? They all use magnets to function. Magnets are rocks or metals that create an invisible field around themselves. This field attracts other magnets and certain metals. The presence of a magnetic field is why you can cover a metal refrigerator door with magnets.
A magnetic field is concentrated around the ends of magnets. These ends are called poles. All magnets have two poles: a north pole and a south pole. You can feel the magnetic force if you hold two magnets so that their poles are near each other. If the poles are opposite (north and south), you will feel an attraction between the magnets. If the poles are identical (north and north or south and south), you will feel the magnets repelling
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repelling
JESSICA PETERSON/GETTY IMAGES
to force away or apart
(verb)
I was repelled by the smell of her drink.
each other.
Some materials are naturally magnetic. Lodestone, a rock that is rich in iron, is one example. And certain metals can become magnetic. These include iron, cobalt, and nickel. If you run a nonmagnetic iron nail through a magnetic field, you can turn it into a magnet. This process is called magnetization.
Earth is a giant magnet. That’s because the planet’s core consists mostly of iron. Earth’s magnetic field stretches out and around the planet. It is called the magnetosphere. The field is strongest near Earth’s North and South Poles.
Ever wonder why a compass always points north? The reason is that a compass is a magnet that sits on a pivot
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pivot
PHOTOALTO—ERIC AUDRAS/GETTY IMAGES
a fixed point on which something turns or balances
(noun)
My bike pedal fell off of its pivot.
. This magnet is often called the needle. Since opposite poles attract, the south pole of the compass needle is attracted to Earth’s magnetic North Pole.
Earth is a giant magnet because it contains magnetic material in the form of molten rock. Earth’s magnetic field, or magnetosphere, is strongest around the planet’s North and South Poles.
PETER HERMES FURIAN—GETTY IMAGES
How Magnets Work
The ancient Greeks were among the first people to discover lodestones. To them, magnetism may have seemed magical. After all, a magnetic field cannot be seen. But its effects can be felt.
Over the past century, scientists have learned that a magnet’s secret lies in its atomic
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atomic
SUPERSTOCK/GETTY IMAGES
relating to atoms, or the smallest components of an element
(adjective)
Atomic clocks keep very accurate time according to the vibrations within an atom.
structure. All objects in the universe are made up of atoms. Each atom has a nucleus at its center. Tiny particles called electrons orbit the nucleus. This process creates magnetic fields around the electrons. Magnetism occurs when the electrons spin in the same direction. As all the magnetic forces from the electrons add up, they make the object one big magnet.
Electricity and Magnetism
The flow of electrons is called electricity. As electrons move through a wire, they create a magnetic field. Scientists believe that magnetism and electricity are part of a single force. It is called the electromagnetic force.
Danish physicist Hans Christian Oersted discovered electromagnetism in 1820. The discovery led to major improvements in the way people live. Scientists began to produce magnets by sending electricity through a coil of wire wrapped around a magnetic material, like iron. This type of magnet is called an electromagnet. Electromagnets can vary in strength. The strength depends on the size of the electric current and the number of times a wire is coiled. Powerful electromagnets, for example, are used to lift cars in junkyards.
Electromagnets are used for a wide range of purposes, including lifting scrap metal.
PETER AN—GETTY IMAGES
Magnets Are Everywhere
Magnets are found in many devices that people use every day. They are in any machine that has a motor. That includes fans, washing machines, and cars. Motors use magnets and coils of wire to turn electrical energy into motion.
Magnets have also helped bring about major advances in health care and transportation. Doctors can diagnose medical conditions through MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging. MRI devices use a magnetic field to create pictures of patients’ organs. In Japan, China, and Germany, high-speed trains use magnets to reach speeds topping 300 miles per hour. The magnets allow the trains to float above the tracks. This gets rid of the friction
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friction
ENERGYY/GETTY IMAGES
the resistance encountered when one body is moved in contact with another
(noun)
The friction between your brakes and wheels helps stop your car when you’re going too fast.
that would otherwise cause the trains to move at slower speeds.
Magnetism is a basic force of nature. It surrounds us. Understanding how magnets work has inspired people to develop groundbreaking and lifesaving technologies.
Learn About Magnets, Uses Of Magnets, Properties Of Magnets And Magnet Strength
Magnetism is a broad and well-researched science with a language of its own. Our magnet glossary, culled from respected resources around the internet, is your one-stop shop for clear definitions of key magnet terminology. Bookmark it or print it out and keep it close to help when you get stumped by a particularly tricky term – soon you’ll be speaking ‘magnet’ with the best of them!
Read our Magnet Glossary
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What are magnets made from? How do they work?
So you want to know about magnets, huh? Well, you’ve come to the right place! Dowling is the magnet expert, so if you have a question that’s not answered below, email us and we’ll answer it! How’s that for being a smarty pants?
- First things first. What is a magnet?
There are two kinds of magnets – the kind you find in nature and the kind that people make. Either way, a magnet is an object that creates a magnetic field. This means the object has to have at least one north pole (like Santa!) and one south pole (like… penguins?).
Want more detail? Read our blog post: How Do Magnets Work?
- Um… okay… so what’s a magnetic field?
A magnetic field is the magnetic space around the magnet. You can measure a magnetic field by the strength of the magnetism and by the direction it’s pointed.
Huh? You want to learn more about that? Read our blog post: What is a Magnetic Field?
- Magnetism? What’s that?
You know how, when you get two magnets together, they either snap together or push each other away? That’s magnetism! It’s the force of attraction (snapping together) or repulsion (pushing away) between objects made of materials like iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel.
Still have pulling questions? Read our blog post: What are Magnetic Poles and How Can You Tell Which Pole Is Which?
- What are magnetic poles?
The points of a magnet that have magnetic strength are called poles. When you dangle a magnet, it automatically turns itself so that one pole is pointing directly north and the other directly south, so a magnet’s poles are labeled north and south. When you have more than one magnet, like (or same) poles repel each other and opposite poles attract each other. In other words, the north pole of one magnet will click together with the south pole of another magnet, while two north poles will push each other away.
- How can you tell which pole is which?
The poles of a magnet look the same, unless of course we’ve marked them for you with “N” or “S”. An easy way to tell which is north and which is south is to set your magnet near a compass. The needle on the compass that normally points toward the north pole of the earth will move toward the magnet’s south pole. See?
Can’t quite see it yet? Read our blog post: What are Magnetic Poles and How Can You Tell Which Pole Is Which?
- Whoops! I demagnetized my compass! Can I fix it?
Don’t worry! If your compass becomes de-magnetized (points in the wrong direction), just put the South Pole of a bar magnet directly on top of the compass needle and slowly slide the magnet along the red side of the needle, toward the pointed end, and then down the side of the compass. Pull the magnet away and your compass is re-magnetized!
- Where is a magnet’s strongest point?
The closer to the magnet, the stronger the magnetic field and force.
- Do magnets ever lose their magnetic power?
There are a few things that can weaken the magnetism in a magnet, like storing it too close to heat, strong electrical currents, other magnets, or radiation. Additionally, high humidity can corrode neodymium magnets.
- Are magnets always magnetic?
Some magnets are permanent, or always, magnetic and others are non-permanent. For example, a magnet from your refrigerator will always be magnetic. A paperclip or nail is not magnetic, but both can become non-permanent magnets when touched by a strong enough fridge magnet. Get it?
- What are permanent magnets made of?
Permanent magnets are made of alloys including Aluminum-Nickel-Cobalt (Alnico), Neodymium-Iron-Boron (Neodymium magnets or “super magnets” are a member of the rare earth category), Samarium-Cobalt (a member of the rare earth category) and Strontium-Iron (Ferrite or Ceramic)
- What’s the difference between permanent magnets and electromagnets?
Permanent magnets emit a magnetic field without an external source of power. An electromagnet emits a magnetic field only when an electrical current runs through it.
- Can magnets be made stronger?
Nope. Once a magnet is fully magnetized, its magnetic force can’t be made any stronger. You can create a stronger magnetic force by magnetizing a magnet while it’s inside a steel channel, but that usually only happens here at the magnet factory.
- Which magnets are the strongest?
Rare earth magnets (Neodymium and Samarium Cobalt) are the strongest. In fact, even a neodymium magnet the size of a pencil eraser cannot be pulled off your refrigerator by hand. (If you test this theory and get into trouble, try sliding it.)
- Who discovered magnets?
The first natural magnet, made of iron ore, was discovered in an ancient country in Asia Minor called Magnesia – that’s where the name magnet came from!
There is more to this story. Read all about in our blog post: Who Discovered the Very First Magnet?
- What about the people-made magnets you mentioned? How can people make a magnet?
Magnets are made by exposing objects that contain nickel, iron, or cobalt to a magnetic field. When this happens, the structure of the material is actually changed on a microscopic level – the molecules of the object are polarized, or rearranged, into lines. When enough of the metal is polarized, it becomes a magnet.
- What will magnets stick to?
Magnets stick to things that include one of three types of metals – nickel, iron, and cobalt.
- How are magnets used, besides to stick my spelling test to the fridge?
Well, to start with, anything that has a motor uses a magnet. TVs, computers, and microwave ovens all operate with magnets. Magnets are used to keep refrigerator doors closed. They can also be mounted on trucks that clean roadways and are sometimes placed in the stomachs of cows to catch metals! They’re also used in medical devices, and in trains, roller coasters, and subways. And more uses for magnets are found every day.
And did you know…
All animals, including humans – this means YOU, have small magnetite crystals in their brains!
Scientists believe that animals may navigate or migrate by sensing the pull of the crystals towards the earth’s magnetic poles.
The earth is one big magnet!
Liquid metals deep within the earth create convection currents that create magnetic force. It is believed that the magnetic force surrounding the earth is what makes life on earth possible. Without the “magnetic force field,” too much of the sun’s energy would reach us and wipe out our atmosphere.
Magnets were once considered magical!
In ancient times, pieces of grey-ish black iron ore were called “lodestones” and people thought they had magical powers.
All electricity is made from magnets.
When you spin a magnet inside a coil of wire, electrons flow from the wire. All power plants use fuel to spin magnets.
Never!
Place a magnet near a computer, TV, watch, clock, video, or credit card. It may damage them!
Magnets | TheSchoolRun
Magnets have been used by humans since ancient Greece. It is believed that naturally occurring minerals called magnetite were first discovered by the Ancient Greeks in the area of Turkey. Magnets used to be known as “lodestones”. The Vikings were known as the first people to use this magnetic material to create compasses that allowed them to navigate across water through poor weather conditions to discover and conquer new land. It is thought that the Vikings kept the magnetic compass a secret for many years. Magnetic compasses can now be found in every ship across the world to navigate the open seas.
Today almost all magnets are manufactured using various natural materials from around the world.
Magnetism is what gives magnets their ability to attract objects made of iron or steel. A magnet creates around itself a region of space with special properties. This region is known as a magnetic field. When two magnets come near each other, their fields create forces that attract or repel.
The Earth is itself a huge magnet, and the force its field exerts on other magnets makes them point in a north–south direction. This effect is used in the magnetic compass.
The most common magnetic material is steel, an alloy (mix) of iron, other metals, and carbon. Pure iron becomes magnetised in a magnetic field but does not stay magnetic. Steel can make a permanent magnet. Once it is magnetised, it stays magnetised.
The two ends of a magnet are always different from each other. The end that points north, if allowed to move freely, is called the north pole. The other end is the south pole. These magnetic poles behave rather like electric charges. Poles of opposite kinds attract each other, while poles of the same kind repel.
Every magnet is surrounded by an invisible, three-dimensional magnetic field. A field is a region in which something varies from point to point. In Earth’s atmosphere, for example, wind speed and direction vary from place to place. In a magnetic field, the strength and direction of the magnetic effect varies in a similar way. The field is at its strongest near the magnet. The idea of a magnetic field is based on the work of British scientist Michael Faraday (1791–1867) in the early 19th century. He sprinkled particles of iron around magnets to reveal what he called “lines of force” stretching from one pole to another. These helped him to explain many magnetic effects. We now see lines of force as indicating the direction of the field, with their spacing indicating its strength.
Electromagnets are made from wire carrying a current. If the wire is coiled, the fields from each turn of wire produce a stronger field. If the wire is wrapped around an iron core, the field gets stronger still. An electromagnet can be a single coil (called a solenoid) or bent double, with two coils. Electromagnets make it easy to handle scrap metal. When the current is switched on, it creates strong magnetism that picks up a load of steel. The crane swings round, the current is switched off, the magnetism disappears, and the steel drops where it is wanted. Electromagnets have many other uses including the generation of electricity in hydroelectric dams.
Words to know:
atmosphere – the mixture of gases that surrounds an astronomical object such as the Earth
attraction – the power of attracting
compass – a device for finding directions, usually with a magnetised pointer that automatically swings to magnetic north
electromagnet – a magnet consisting of a core, often made of soft iron, that is temporarily magnetised by an electric current flowing through a coil that surrounds it
force – the power, strength, or energy that somebody or something possesses
friction – the resistance of rubbing of two objects against each other when one or both are moving
hydroelectric – generated by converting the pressure of falling or running water to electricity by means of a turbine coupled to a generator
magnet – a piece of metal that has the power to draw iron or steel objects towards it and to hold or move them
magnetic field – a region of space surrounding a magnetised body or current-carrying circuit in which the resulting magnetic force can be detected
magnetism – the phenomenon of physical attraction for iron, shown in magnets or by a moving electric charge or current
material – the substance used to make things
permanent – never changing or not expected to change
repulsion – a force between two bodies of the same electric charge or magnetic polarity that tends to repel or separate them
magnetism | National Geographic Society
Magnetism is the force exerted by magnets when they attract or repel each other. Magnetism is caused by the motion of electric charges.
Every substance is made up of tiny units called atoms. Each atom has electrons, particles that carry electric charges. Spinning like tops, the electrons circle the nucleus, or core, of an atom. Their movement generates an electric current and causes each electron to act like a microscopic magnet.
In most substances, equal numbers of electrons spin in opposite directions, which cancels out their magnetism. That is why materials such as cloth or paper are said to be weakly magnetic. In substances such as iron, cobalt, and nickel, most of the electrons spin in the same direction. This makes the atoms in these substances strongly magnetic—but they are not yet magnets.
To become magnetized, another strongly magnetic substance must enter the magnetic field of an existing magnet. The magnetic field is the area around a magnet that has magnetic force.
All magnets have north and south poles. Opposite poles are attracted to each other, while the same poles repel each other. When you rub a piece of iron along a magnet, the north-seeking poles of the atoms in the iron line up in the same direction. The force generated by the aligned atoms creates a magnetic field. The piece of iron has become a magnet.
Some substances can be magnetized by an electric current. When electricity runs through a coil of wire, it produces a magnetic field. The field around the coil will disappear, however, as soon as the electric current is turned off.
Geomagnetic Poles
The Earth is a magnet. Scientists do not fully understand why, but they think the movement of molten metal in the Earth’s outer core generates electric currents. The currents create a magnetic field with invisible lines of force flowing between the Earth’s magnetic poles.
The geomagnetic poles are not the same as the North and South Poles. Earth’s magnetic poles often move, due to activity far beneath the Earth’s surface. The shifting locations of the geomagnetic poles are recorded in rocks that form when molten material called magma wells up through the Earth’s crust and pours out as lava. As lava cools and becomes solid rock, strongly magnetic particles within the rock become magnetized by the Earth’s magnetic field. The particles line up along the lines of force in the Earth’s field. In this way, rocks lock in a record of the position of the Earth’s geomagnetic poles at that time.
Strangely, the magnetic records of rocks formed at the same time seem to point to different locations for the poles. According to the theory of plate tectonics, the rocky plates that make up the Earth’s hard shell are constantly moving. Thus, the plates on which the rocks solidified have moved since the rocks recorded the position of the geomagnetic poles. These magnetic records also show that the geomagnetic poles have reversed—changed into the opposite kind of pole—hundreds of times since the Earth formed.
Earth’s magnetic field does not move quickly or reverse often. Therefore, it can be a useful tool for helping people find their way around. For hundreds of years, people have used magnetic compasses to navigate using Earth’s magnetic field. The magnetic needle of a compass lines up with Earth’s magnetic poles. The north end of a magnet points toward the magnetic north pole.
Earth’s magnetic field dominates a region called the magnetosphere, which wraps around the planet and its atmosphere. Solar wind, charged particles from the sun, presses the magnetosphere against the Earth on the side facing the sun and stretches it into a teardrop shape on the shadow side.
The magnetosphere protects the Earth from most of the particles, but some leak through it and become trapped. When particles from the solar wind hit atoms of gas in the upper atmosphere around the geomagnetic poles, they produce light displays called auroras. These auroras appear over places like Alaska, Canada and Scandinavia, where they are sometimes called “Northern Lights.” The “Southern Lights” can be seen in Antarctica and New Zealand.
Magnets – Science World
Objectives
Determine if something is magnetic.
Determine which parts of magnets are the most attractive.
Explain the relationship between electricity and magnetism.
Materials
Background
A magnet is an object that creates a magnetic field: This field is invisible, but it’s responsible for the most obvious property of a magnet: the ability to attract some materials, like iron, and attract or repel other magnets.
History
The ancient Greeks and Chinese discovered that some rare stones were naturally magnetized, pieces of the mineral magnetite. These so called “lodestones” attracted small pieces of iron in a seemingly magical way, and if freely suspended, they always pointed in the same direction.
The first written mention of a magnet is from the fourth century B.C. in China. The Chinese learned how to make artificial magnets by heating pieces of ore until they were red-hot and then cooling the pieces while they were in a north/south position. The magnet was then placed on a reed and floated in a bowl of water.
These floating magnets were the predecessors of needle compasses, and uses in navigation are first mentioned in a Chinese text from 1088 A.D. The compass was widely used on Chinese ships by the eleventh century AD.
We now make magnets in various shapes and sizes for different uses. One of the most common magnets — the bar magnet — is a long, rectangular bar that attracts pieces of ferrous (iron) objects.
Magnetic Poles
Every magnet has one north pole and one south pole. If you break a bar magnet in half, each half will have a north and south pole, even if you break it in half many of times. The north poles of two magnets will repel each other, as will their south poles. On the other hand, a north pole and a south pole will attract each other.
Conventionally, we say that magnetic field lines leave the north end of a magnet and enter the south end of a magnet. The forces of a magnet are strongest at the poles. This is because the magnetic field tends to be concentrated at the poles (and spread out and bulging between them).
Magnetic field lines don’t exist physically — they’re a mathematical construct to help us visualise how magnets work. However, iron filings around a magnet will line themselves up along the field lines, so we can then see how the magnetic field “looks”.
What Makes a Magnet?
The atoms of a magnetic material are themselves tiny magnets. When groups of magnetic atoms are lined up in the same direction they’re called a magnetic domain. If many magnetic domains are themselves aligned, the resulting material’s magnetic field is strong enough to affect other materials some distance away. In other words, it is a magnet.
A permanent magnet carries its own persistent magnetic field. A good example is a fridge magnet. Permanent magnets can be made of iron, nickel or cobalt; these are materials with atomic “magnets” that can be aligned. Materials like iron, nickel and cobalt are called ferromagnetic materials, and they’re also attracted to magnets.
Moving electrons can also create a temporary magnetic field. For example, if one end of a battery is connected to the other end with a wire, electrons move along the wire and create a magnetic field. If you bring a compass near the wire, it will move in response to this field.
The whole Earth is also a magnet. The extreme heat of the inner core creates convection currents in the molten iron of the Earth’s outer core. The movement of the iron creates an electric current which in turn creates a magnetic field. The magntic poles of the Earth are closely aligned to the geographical poles, but they are actually opposite. The north poles of bar magnets and compass needles are attracted towards the geographical north pole because it is actually the Earth’s magnetic south pole!
Some things to remember:
- North poles point to the geographical north, south poles point to the geographical south.
- Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
- Magnetic forces attract only magnetic materials.
- Magnetic forces act at a distance.
- While in contact with a magnet, a magnetic material acts as a magnet itself.
- A coil of wire with an electric current flowing through it becomes an electromagnet.
Vocabulary
magnet: A material or object that produces a magnetic field that can affect materials around it. A magnet attracts magnetic materials like iron. Permanent magnets always have a magnetic field.
pole: One of the two ends of a magnet where the magnetic field is concentrated.
magnetic material: A material that is attracted to a magnet. It could itself be made into a magnet.
electromagnet: A temporary magnet made by coiling wire around an iron core; when current flows through the coil the iron becomes a magnet.
attract: To draw closer or pull together.
repel: To push away.
Other Resources
Science World | YouTube| Magnet Fun at Home
Physics4Kids.com | Electricity and Magnetism
Magnets And Magnetic Fields – A Beginners Guide
Magnets are used all over the world in almost all modern devices from computer hard drives to the latest environmentally friendly cars and transportation. With so much information available on the internet we have provided a basic introductory guide to magnets & magnetic fields. A Magnet is a material which produces an invisible magnetic field which can attract ferromagnetic materials. Magnets can also attract or repel other Magnets. All Magnets have at least 2 magnetic poles.
What materials can be attracted to a magnet?
Materials containing Iron, (steel contains iron) Cobalt and Nickel are ferromagnetic and are attracted to a magnet. Most other materials such as wood, plastic, aluminium and copper are not attracted to a magnet and are called non-magnetic.
What are Poles?
Every Magnet has at least two magnetic poles, one NORTH and one SOUTH and a magnetic field flows continuously from NORTH to SOUTH. A North pole has the same attracting force as a South pole when attracting Ferromagnetic materials.
Repelling and attracting
If two bar magnets are pushed together end to end, then they will either attract each other or repel each other depending on which polarities are used (North to South, North to North or South to South) Like Poles repel – Two North poles will repel each other (push each other away). Two South poles will also repel each other. Opposite Poles attract – A North pole will attract a South pole (jump towards and stick to each other)
Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field flows from North to South and if you place a piece of paper on top of a magnet and sprinkle fine iron powder on top, the shape of the invisible magnetic fields become visible as the fine iron powder clings to them. There are many shapes of magnet and each has a different magnetic field shape.
We have included diagrams and photographs below of the magnetic fields for just a hand full of magnets. You can download a copy of our magnetic fields in PDF format.
Bar Magnet
Arc Magnet
Mitre Magnet
Circular Disc Magnet
Types of Magnets
Magnets are objects that generate a magnetic field, a force-field that either pulls or repels certain materials, such as nickel and iron, but what are magnets made of and what are the different types of magnets? We give you everything you need to know about the types of magnets and their strengths and uses.
What Are the Different Types of Magnets?
Of course, not all magnets are composed of the same elements, and thus can be broken down into categories based on their composition and source of magnetism. Permanent magnets are magnets that retain their magnetism once magnetized. Temporary magnets are materials magnets that perform like permanent magnets when in the presence of a magnetic field, but lose magnetism when not in a magnetic field. Electromagnets are wound coils of wire that function as magnets when an electrical current is passed through. By adjusting the strength and direction of the current, the strength of the magnet is also altered. Below we breakdown the various types of magnet available.
Permanent Magnets
There are typically four categories of permanent magnets: neodymium iron boron (NdFeB), samarium cobalt (SmCo), alnico, and ceramic or ferrite magnets.
Neodymium Iron Boron (NdFeB)
This type of magnet is composed of rare earth magnetic material, and has a high coercive force. They have an extremely high energy product range, up to 50 MGOe. Because of this high product energy level, they can usually be manufactured to be small and compact in size. However, NdFeB magnets have low mechanical strength, tend to be brittle, and low corrosion-resistance if left uncoated. If treated with gold, iron, or nickel plating, they can be used in many applications. They are very strong magnets and are difficult to demagnetize.
Samarium Cobalt (SmCo)
Like NdFeB magnets, SmCo magnets are also very strong and difficult to demagnetize. They are also highly oxidation-resistant and temperature resistant, withstanding temperatures up to 300 degrees Celsius. Two different groups of SmCo magnets exist, divided based on their product energy range. The first series (Sm1Co5) has an energy product range of 15-22 MGOe. The second series (Sm2Co17) has a range that falls between 22 and 30 MGOe. However, they can be expensive and have low-mechanical strength.
Alnico
Alnico magnets get their name from the first two letters of each of three main ingredients: aluminum, nickel, and cobalt. Although they feature good temperature resistance, they can easily be demagnetized and are sometimes replaced by ceramic and rare earth magnets in certain applications. They can be produced by either sintering or casting, with each process yielding different magnet characteristics. Sintering produces enhanced mechanical traits. Casting results in higher energy products and enables the magnets to achieve more complicated design features.
Ceramic or Ferrite
Comprised of sintered iron oxide and barium or strontium carbonate, ceramic or ferrite permanent magnets are typically inexpensive and easily produced, either through sintering or pressing. However, because these magnets tend to be brittle, they require grinding using a diamond wheel. They are one of the most commonly used types of magnet, and are strong and is not easy to demagnetize.
Temporary Magnets
Temporary magnets can vary in composition, as they are essentially any material that behaves like a permanent magnet when in the presence of a magnetic field. Soft iron devices, such as paper clips, are often temporary magnets.
Electromagnets
Electromagnets are made by winding a wire into multiple loops around a core material this formation is known as a solenoid. To magnetize electromagnets, an electrical current is passed through the solenoid to create a magnetic field. The field is strongest on the inside of the coil, and the strength of the field is proportionate to the number of loops and the strength of the current.
The electromagnet core material at the center of the coil (the core of the solenoid) can also affect the strength of an electromagnet. If a wire is wrapped around a nonmagnetic material, such as a piece of wood, the overall magnetic field will not be very strong. However, if the core is composed of ferromagnetic material, such as iron, the strength of the magnet will dramatically increase. So why is an electromagnet classified as a temporary magnet? Because when the power from the battery ceases, so does the current, and the magnetic field disappears.
Applications
Within the industrial sector, magnets are often used as magnetic sweepers for various applications (from plant floors to airfields), magnetic sorters, and to separate impure metals during metal manufacturing or recycling. In electronic applications, magnets are used in speakers, televisions, telephones, radios, and videotapes. Typically, electromagnets are used within televisions, computers, and telephones because of their extreme strength. For this same reason, they are also used in on-off applications, such as cranes used for heavy lifting.
Permanent magnets are perhaps the most common type they are used to manufacture refrigerator magnets, as well as in jewelry making. Temporary magnets can be useful in applications that generate a temporary magnetic field and require a magnetic response for the duration of the field.
Sources
- https://www.adamsmagnetic.com/blogs/basics-magnetism
Other Magnets Articles
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90,000 Types of magnets and their scope
Magnets are used everywhere. They can be permanent, temporary, as well as electromagnets. The former do not need to be recharged, the latter are capable of working exclusively within the magnetic field, and the latter function only in tandem with an electric current. Permanent magnets can be artificial or natural. The first is created by nature, and the second is the result of a technological breakthrough.
Magnets in a wide variety are offered by the online store at https: // rosmagnit.ru / (IE Koposov Dmitry Sergeevich; INN: 351124491522; OGRNIP: 316352500074337; address: Moscow, Tverskoy district, M. Mendeleevskaya, Novoslobodskaya street 18, entrance 1, second floor, office 205). Here you can buy neodymium magnets and search, magnetic tools and various holders, flexible and magnets for schools, magnetic toys and neokubas, metal detectors. The assortment of goods is extremely wide and varied. Hurry up to see this for yourself.
There are a great many ways to effectively use magnets.For example, it is on the magnet that the compass works. It is applied in many areas. The magnet is also built into various modern devices such as an ammeter. This material is also actively used in industry. It is used in the manufacture of various goods. Items can be very large and tiny.
Magnets have also found active use in medicine. Many people say that they are dangerous to health, while others hold the opposite point of view. It is important to understand that there is no difference between a magnet and a magnet.
A huge number of technical solutions are based on the operation of the magnet. Few people know that televisions, computers, and telephones came about in part due to magnets and their amazing powers.
Magnets are often the subject of monetization in their basic form. We are talking about various souvenirs. It is an inexhaustible source of income for every tourist area. Magnets with logos are also popular. They can often be seen in various promotions.
Often magnets have an auxiliary function. With their help, you can solve and facilitate a wide range of tasks. It is definitely not worth underestimating the importance and significance of a magnet.
Advertised
90,000 Magnets and magnetism – Anti-Malware.ru
A magnet is a piece of stone or metal that can attract other metals.The strength of magnets is called magnetism. Together with gravity and electricity, this is the main force of nature. Ancient people discovered magnets and magnetism thousands of years ago. They found that certain types of rocks, called magnetites, attracted iron and other metal objects. After a while, they found that thin pieces of such a stone would always point in one direction when hung from a piece of string. The ends of such a metal are the poles of the Magnet. All magnets have a magnetic field around them, a force between the two poles.
Search magnets are especially powerful magnets that can very effectively attract various objects to themselves.
Magnets attract or repel other metals. This is because each magnet has two poles: North and South. The north and south poles attract each other, but two north or two south poles repel each other.
Our planet is also a large magnet with North and South poles. But the Earth’s magnetic poles are not in the same place as the geographic poles.The Magnetic North Pole, for example, is in northern Canada. Compasses always point to magnetic poles, not geographic ones.
Magnetism arises from electrons, tiny particles that fly around the nucleus of an atom. They are negatively charged and create a very weak magnetic field. When many of these electrons point in the same direction, they can attract metals towards them.
You can also make a magnet by taking an existing one and rubbing it on another piece of metal.If you continue to rub a new piece of metal in the same direction, its electrons will start pointing in that direction, thus creating a new magnet.
If a magnet maintains its magnetic field all the time, we call it a permanent magnet. However, not all magnets are permanent. Some objects become magnets only when electricity passes through them. They are called electromagnets. There are many examples of such electromagnets in everyday life: car engines, railway signals, loudspeakers.
Magnetism and electricity
In the 1700s, scientists discovered that magnetism and electricity have similar properties. Just as magnets have two poles, electricity has positive and negative charges. Positive and negative charges attract each other, while two negative or two positive charges repel.
After learning this, they began to make useful tools and machines using electricity and magnetism. Danish physicist Oersted sent electricity through a wire and placed a compass next to it.To his surprise, the compass needle moved. Soon after, the first electromagnet was made, making a wire into a coil and sending electricity through it.
Use of magnets
The first magnetic instruments were compasses, which sailors used on their voyages. Today magnets can be found in many areas of everyday life. They are found in washing machines, keep doors closed, and run in generators and electric motors. Credit cards have magnetic stripes on them that give you financial information.Magnetic audio and video tapes and discs contain many tiny magnetic particles that are used to store sounds, images, and other information.
In medicine, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine can produce accurate images of organs and bones inside the human body. It is much better and more accurate than X-rays.
Powerful electromagnets are attached to large cranes that can move Iron and Steel. In some parts of the world, trains run on magnetized rails.These trains, called magnetic trains, rise above the tracks and have no contact with them. They move at speeds of up to 480 km per hour.
Magnets for animals
Scientists have also discovered that some animals, such as pigeons, dolphins and turtles, may have some magnetic particles in their bodies. They are able to detect the Earth’s magnetic field and find out their location.
90,000 Strength and Weakness of Permanent Magnets – Energy and Industry of Russia – № 7 (59) July 2005 – WWW.EPRUSSIA.RU
“Energy and Industry of Russia” newspaper | No. 7 (59) July 2005
Since the electric current (its properties) is a consequence of the movement of electric charges, and the latter move relative to other stationary charges, various electrical interactions arise. What is meant by “pure” electric current?
A pure or neutral current can, apparently, be called a situation when there are charges that are conditionally distant from others, consisting of an equal number of negatively and positively charged particles, some of which move relative to others in the prevailing direction.It is the mutual movement of charges of opposite sign relative to each other that is the neutral current. Other variants of the movement of charges, for example, with a predominance of charges of the same sign, will in a way be derivatives of the neutral current and, accordingly, have some features of electrical interactions.
In many situations, we are far from dealing with neutral currents, since there are both an uneven distribution of charges along the length of the conductors with current, and jumps in the strength of the electric field at some boundaries of the conductors (the presence of an EMF causing a current, etc.).P.). Therefore, to study the properties of the neutral current, one should use either a ring superconductor with a current or permanent magnets, which in this case can be conventionally considered as a system with a ring neutral current.
Ring currents of magnets
Considering permanent magnets as ring neutral currents, some general remarks can be made. The electric ring current is maintained without external feed for a sufficiently long time.The process of neutral current flow is not accompanied by heat generation or electromagnetic radiation (it simply maintains a thermal balance with the environment and the body of the permanent magnet).
Despite the fact that the “magnetic” neutral ring currents, we will assume that they are constant in magnitude, when the magnets interact with each other, situations arise when both some transient processes and the mutual influence of currents on each other are possible. In other words, the phenomenon of electrical mutual induction arises.
Mutual induction of two circuits with current in the presence of magnetic coupling is described in sufficient detail in the literature. It is known that the energy of two magnetic-coupled circuits with current differs from the sum of the currents’ own energies by the value of the mutual energy of the two currents. Extending this rule to the interaction of permanent magnets, we can say that the energy of the system of magnets differs from the total energy of each magnet. This is understandable, since mechanical work occurs when the magnets approach or move away.
But are the equivalent circular currents of permanent magnets so constant in magnitude? Indeed, they represent, simply, the sum of a huge number of elementary molecular currents. But unlike other material bodies, a permanent magnet has an external and internal magnetic field, which “binds” all elementary currents, and each circular current reacts to the vibrations of the others, as they, in turn, to its vibrations. In other words, in a permanent magnet, all elementary currents represent, as it were, a single “organism”, which makes it a permanent magnet itself.If the given “organism” is destroyed and each elementary current begins an independent “existence”, the magnetic properties of this object disappear.
Rotation is the key to efficiency
In a group of three magnets, the middle magnet “modulates” the total magnetic field of all three magnets. Moreover, the density maximum shifts in one direction, and on the opposite side, the magnetic field is practically absent. When the magnetic force of the middle magnet changes, the total field changes smoothly, and the magnetic flux density seems to move to the other side.
What ultimately does it give? Since the middle magnet can simply be rotated, the maximum of the total magnetic flux density will also move in a circle equal to the rotation frequency of the middle magnet. In other words, one middle magnet can control the total field, which is the sum of the strength of the three magnets. Moreover, when the middle magnet rotates, there is no change in the total energy of the magnetic field, that is, the rotation of the middle magnet occurs without energy consumption.
Rotating or reversing maximum magnetic flux can be used in a variety of devices – from the simplest pump options to motors or generators. All devices will feature high efficiency and low power consumption.
Of course, rotating a medium permanent magnet is not the only practical use of a group of three permanent magnets in generators or motors. This middle magnet can be replaced by an electromagnet, through the winding of which alternating current of various forms is passed (depending on the purpose or design).
Of greatest interest is the use of this effect in two types of motors: with linear reciprocating motion and rotary. The torque of such engines can reach significant values at relatively low operating speeds.
Where can permanent magnets be used?
One of the features of motors with active use of permanent magnets is the ability to use electrical resonance. Since the control electromagnet periodically changes polarity, that is, it is powered by an alternating current, the frequency of which depends on the speed (in the case of a rotary motor) in the ratio 1 / K, where K is the number of poles, electromagnets can be included in the composition of the oscillatory circuit with a capacitance. The connection of electromagnets can be series, parallel or combined, and the capacitance is selected by resonance at the operating frequency of the motor, while the average value of the current passing through the electromagnets will be large, and the external current feed will mainly compensate for active losses.
This mode of operation will be the most attractive from the point of view of economy, and the motor in which it is used will be called magnetic resonance stepping. In this case, the engine speed is practically independent of the load and is determined by the frequency of the electrical resonance divided by the number of poles, despite the increase in the consumed current with increasing load. In order to increase the operating speed, it is possible to use multiphase power supply circuits for motor electromagnets.The average expected reduction in electrical power consumption of these magnetic resonance stepper motors can be as high as 60-75% compared to conventional electric motors. Such motors are distinguished by a large torque, a fairly rigid load characteristic, a stable rotational speed, high reliability (the armature does not have current-carrying elements), the absence of moving contacts and arcing, etc., therefore, their area of application will have its own characteristics.
Despite this, they can surpass in some parameters both three-phase asynchronous and synchronous machines, and collector DC motors.Low power consumption is one of the main advantages.
Generator with increased efficiency
The use of permanent magnets is effective, for example, in the design of an electric generator with a fixed rotor. The advantage of such generators is the absence of moving parts, high reliability, efficiency, simplicity of design. The use of magnetic materials with special properties will make it possible to obtain even greater cost-effectiveness. The average reduction in energy consumption in the production of electricity on this type of generator can reach 50% or more.
Their design is based on the principle of modulation of the total magnetic field of three permanent magnets by an average magnet, which is an electromagnet. The use of permanent magnets allows you to achieve a reduction in energy costs when generating electrical energy.
The magnetic system of this generator is generally a “cross in a ring”, where one of the cross bars are permanent magnets, and the other is a control electromagnet, the coil of which can be split into two parts or used as a single coil.The ring is a magnetic circuit with low eddy current losses, on which 4 working windings (output windings) are located, the connection of which is carried out in pairs. The output voltage has twice the frequency in relation to the frequency of the current supplying the control electromagnet.
If, during the operation of a conventional generator (with a rotating rotor), a constant magnetic flux of the rotor (permanent magnets or an electromagnet), rotating from a driving external motor, periodically changes the magnetic flux in the stator windings, then mechanical costs on the part of the driving motor increase.
In the case of a stationary rotor, there is no friction loss or counter-torque of the drive motor. In fact, this is a special type of transformer converter with additional feeding from the magnetic field of permanent magnets. In the process of converting the input AC current, the frequency of the output current is doubled. Since the magnetic field of permanent magnets does not change its direction – there is only a periodic redistribution of it over the sectors of the ring, it actively works, investing its “contribution” in the generation of EMF.
The magnetic flux of the control or primary winding of the electromagnet changes sign, that is, a process similar to the process of a simple transformer takes place. The efficiency of the transformer conversion is quite high. In other words, we get a frequency doubler transformer with increased efficiency.
What ultimately does it give? It turns out that the input power is at least less than the output. The excess of the output power over the input power occurs due to the energy of permanent magnets, which, unlike the usual generation scheme, are stationary.
Additional capabilities of this generator can be obtained by using magnetic materials with special properties for the stator ring core.
The disadvantages of the device include the following: doubling the frequency of the output voltage, some complexity in the manufacture of magnetic cores and windings, the need for compensation windings to set the required load characteristics. The maximum power is determined mainly by the energy of the permanent magnets used, on which all other parameters depend.
To create a three-phase current, you can use either 3 similar converters (power supply of the control windings is synchronized), or a similar design made in a three-phase version.
A way has been found to strengthen magnets and increase their efficiency
Thanks to this effect, the authors have determined the required size of nanoparticles, at which the maximum magnetic rigidity is achieved. The rigidity, as well as the magnitude of the saturation magnetization, ultimately determine the magnetic energy.The higher the magnetic energy, the more this material is suitable for use as a permanent magnet. Thus, if nanoparticles developed by the authors are added to ordinary magnets or they are formed in the process of high-speed quenching, it is possible to obtain a material with maximum magnetic energy.
In the course of their work, after processing the powders of barium magnets BaFe 12 O 19 with plasma, scientists performed their high-speed quenching (~ 107 deg / sec), thereby creating barium-ferrite nanoparticles in the materials and increasing the magnetic energy of the substance.It turned out that by adjusting the technological parameters of plasma spraying and subsequent quenching, it is possible to control the size of nanoparticles and, consequently, the magnitude of the coercive force. Scientists note that this method of improving performance is not only suitable for barium magnets. Nanoparticles can be formed not only by high-speed quenching, but also embedded in them, for example, during sintering, while providing a high level of magnetic hardness.
Since such nanoparticles can be heated in electromagnetic fields or rotate in an alternating magnetic field, they can be used for targeted operations.
“We compared the obtained characteristics with foreign analogs and found that our results correspond, and in some respects exceed foreign ones,” the scientist concluded.
The work was carried out in cooperation with scientists from the Krasnoyarsk Scientific Center of the SB RAS.
Press releases on scientific research, information on the latest published scientific articles and conference announcements, as well as data on grants and awards won, send to science @ indicator.ru.
Examples of Bad Lead Magnets and How to Make a Working Magnet
In this article, we will not go deep into the essence of lead magnets. We want to discuss mistakes and faults, and also try to understand: how to make a magnet so that it works and does not cause shame?
However, just in case, let us repeat that lead magnets are
free useful content, a gift that you give the user in exchange for their contact information. For example, for email.
Lead magnets can be:
- checklists,
- guides and manuals,
- infographics,
- templates,
- lists of useful tools and services,
- research,
- webinar recordings,
- entertainment content,
- Electronic books.
And much more.
Lead magnets are needed at all stages of the sales funnel to generate lead and create an expert image of the company through valuable content for the user.With the help of a lead magnet, you introduce people to the company, gain a foothold in their memory and generate a high-quality lead base.
It is logical that you need to use lead magnets. In an amicable way, you should even create a database of such content for different platforms and stages of the funnel. It’s just one thing to start doing it, and another thing to do well.
Shame on lead magnets
We think you understand perfectly well that marketers don’t always make adequate lead magnets. Having learned about magnets from a webinar / course / google, some collect and put into operation things that do not work at best.At worst, they drive people away from the company.
We found examples of lead magnets that made our eyes twitch. About why it is difficult to work with it – will be below. Until then, enjoy:
So many things make your eyes run wild.
Effective ads? Posts for smart promotion? Don’t forget about literacy.
Magic instead of benefit.
How many stickers and even the girl got out to tell.
Henry Ford? Millionaire system and checklist? I’ll wait 5 minutes and watch another presentation.
The name of the lead magnet does not reflect the benefit to the user.
Why are these lead magnets ineffective?
The main mistakes when creating lead magnets
There is probably no point in saying that literacy is not even a hygienic minimum when creating lead magnets. At first we thought to just make a list of mistakes, but then we decided to approach the issue from the side of the people who make them. We do not promise 100% compliance with their thinking, but we will try to get into their heads.
No intelligible titles or descriptions
Our task is to put a slumber on the user. Therefore, we do everything as if our lead magnet is the fruit of love of the Sahara Desert and the dry McMurdo Valley (we Google it, yes). We discard catchy and catchy headlines, we do not reveal the benefits of a lead magnet and we do not show what problem the client will solve in exchange for his data.
Or, on the contrary, we shout to him that after our infographics he will become a Billionaire with a capital M. But nothing substantive, only the promise of life in Goa.And manuscripts.
Will work exactly.
Lead magnets shouldn’t be of any use
What did they say above? Helpful content? Solve a customer problem? Raise our expertise in his eyes? No, this is not our business, we still have to work. A PDF page with the quote “ Do the right thing, don’t do it ” and the bank transfer account number for this tip is just the right thing.
We don’t conduct any research, we don’t provide actual data, we don’t send original content, we don’t even make it.If the client has some kind of pain that can be relieved, then let him go to the doctor.
The longer the path to useful content, the better
They still pass our quizas instead of working, so let’s reward them for that. Make the questionnaires as long as possible, at least 20 minutes, so that by the middle the person will surely lose the thread and forget why he is doing it.
The longer the customer’s journey to the final benefit, the more willingly he will dive to the lower levels of the sales funnel. Don’t count how long the user’s attention is on. Don’t think about his involvement and the fact that besides the path to our lead magnet, he has other things to do. After all, they are definitely not.
The user will get a special pleasure if at the end of the journey he cannot download the material, as happened to us with the “Millionaire’s Checklist”. Not downloaded, we will not find out about the thinking of millionaires 🙁
Want a lead magnet? We need your clothes, boots and motorcycle
And also the insurance number, SNILS, passport data, spouse’s phone number, GPS coordinates of your car and even test results.In triplicate and in writing on an unlined sheet of A3 format. The more data we get, the more difficult it is for a user to get a lead magnet, the better. After all, we tried, drew, came up with, made up the application form, let the client work hard to get our precious checklist. Again, with the Millionaire Checklist, we were asked to wait 5 minutes and watch the presentation with Rockefeller quotes.
If you think a person’s email is enough for a lead magnet, then we condole on your marketing streak.
If something can surface – let it surface immediately
Rumor has it that it takes a person at least 15 seconds to get comfortable on the site. Do not believe them: from the first seconds on the site, flood the user with pop-up windows with offers to receive a checklist of a successful person. In this situation, any of us will give his phone number and mail to continue communication. Better yet, have the popup in acid colors, animate, and repeat every 10 seconds. Do not forget to also securely hide the closing cross.There is an article on Callibri’s blog that says don’t do this – don’t read it.
We need the ultimate design!
It doesn’t matter what you do: infographics, guides, diagrams or checklists. The main thing is no visual uniformity, neatness or minimalism. More selling red ™, and different and small fonts to make it harder to read.
Lead magnets are stored and used, so let them attract maximum attention to themselves so that everyone can appreciate the full scale of the work done.
No strategy, just bullet lead magnets and that’s it
While amateurs are planning something there, building their magnets into the funnel and thinking about a unified system, we are making history.
Just take and make lead magnets. And we insert them wherever and however we want. It doesn’t matter what audience and at what stage of acquaintance with the company will see this or that magnet. We will reach everyone and become the kings of the market. You can also dump the list of links at once in order to diffuse the client’s attention as much as possible, he will lose his vigilance and immediately buy everything from us.
And planning is for those who have seen enough of all sorts of webinars and do not understand anything about marketing.
Okay, jokes, jokes, but such errors are found everywhere. It doesn’t matter what marketers are guided by or what gaps in their knowledge are, this is reality. What to do in order not to stumble ourselves?
How to make an adequate lead magnet?
Looking at these errors, we have compiled a simple checklist for preparing lead magnets. Take it.
Build lead magnets into your sales funnel – Think carefully about who should see a particular lead magnet and when.It is important to understand what effect the magnet should bring at a particular stage of the client’s journey. Do you want to introduce the client to the company? Want to demonstrate how your product will solve his problem? Show your expertise? Consider all of this and associate lead magnets with your strategy.
The main thing here is not to scatter the user’s attention and solve one problem at a time, not 100.
Read also:
What is a sales funnel?
Determine the Usefulness of Lead Magnets – When creating lead magnets, don’t start with what you want. First of all, understand how the client’s pain will be solved by the material for which you are asking for contacts. Conduct research on your target audience, identify their pains, needs and problems. You can even do it in an interview format or compose a mailing list with a survey. Analyze the result and create magnets that will benefit your client.
Read also:
Negative keywords for contextual advertising: 15 ready-made lists and instructions on how to create your own
Customer friendliness is a priority – if the client did not experience a pleasant emotion from interacting with the lead magnet, this is a failure, no matter how high-quality content was waiting for him inside.Any barrier can ruin a person’s impression not from the PDF that fell in his mail, but from the sender – your company.
- Create a nice, ergonomic design. Minimalism and simplicity are your friends.
- Give customer benefits right away, don’t waste their time.
- It doesn’t make sense to ask for a bunch of data that no one will give for a list of the best books for the aspiring marketer. For a start, email is enough.
While helping, entertain – if a person not only solved the problem, but also received entertainment, then he is much more likely to return to you.Use gamification techniques, create entertaining quizzes where your product is natively embedded. Quiz marketing is a whole science, about which we have written a separate article. And the designer of quizzes is built into all packages MultiChat , try it.
Read also:
How to make a quiz on the website in 2021? A practical guide
Be relevant – By inserting a lead magnet into a pop-up window, you are on a slippery slope. There are few things that annoy the user like inappropriate pop-ups that cannot be closed properly. However, in the right hands, pop-ups turn into a fail-safe lead generation tool.
Conclusion
As with any marketing tool, you need to be conscious of creating lead magnets.
Constantly ask yourself how and how you can improve the client’s life. The answers to these questions will be your lead magnets. And you already know how to do it.
90,000 Small and powerful magnets will be banned in children’s toys | Articles
Due to numerous complaints from parents of children affected by swallowed magnets, the Ministry of Industry and Trade has amended the technical regulation of the Customs Union “On the safety of toys”.They relate to the power and size of magnets in children’s toys. Also, according to the new rules, manufacturers will be fined for the absence of a warning on the presence of loose magnets on the packaging, as well as suspend their activities.
However, children’s doctors believe that these measures are not enough and magnetic toys should be banned altogether. The swallowing of elements attracted to each other leads to serious consequences and often – even to the death of children.
According to the new rules, a loose magnet in a toy must have a calculated magnetic flux value “not more than T · mm²”, or be of such a size that it cannot enter the respiratory tract and be swallowed.Also, the new regulation indicates that manufacturers of magnetic toys are obliged to warn buyers with the inscription on the packaging: “Attention! Contains loose magnets and magnetic elements. Use only under direct adult supervision. If magnets and magnetic elements have been swallowed, seek medical attention. ” Now on most packages with magnetic toys there are no such inscriptions, and not all parents suspect about their danger.
Deputy Chief Physician for Surgery, Children’s City Clinical Hospital.PER. Bashlyaeva Viktor Shein told Izvestia that this is a fairly common injury among children.
– Magnetic toys are deadly and have been reported by parents and the medical community on numerous occasions. But there are only more of such toys on sale, – said Viktor Shein.
According to him, in 2015, seven children under the age of 15 were taken to the hospital. Between three and 20 magnets were found in their stomachs and intestines.
– Single magnets are not a serious hazard.But if several magnets are swallowed, they can be attracted to each other at different levels of the intestine. The pressure of these magnets is very strong, a pressure ulcer forms in the intestines, after which the magnets perforate the intestines and peritonitis develops. It can be fatal, – said Victor Shein.
He noted that children often swallow small magnets from puzzles and constructors and those that have fallen out of toys.
The draft amendments to the regulations will come into force until January 1, 2018.
According to Antonina Tsitsulina, President of the Russian National Toy Association (NAIR), manufacturers will have to switch to raw materials with lower magnetic flux rates and print packaging with a new label. If the requirements of the new regulations are not met, the toy maker will be fined, and the products will be discontinued until the violations are eliminated.
The press service of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) confirmed to Izvestia that new requirements for magnetic toys were included in the technical regulations in connection with repeated complaints from citizens.There are no such requirements in the current regulation, while they have long been in the European standard.
– Swallowing several magnetic elements is very dangerous, they combine, and this can lead to rupture of the intestine and even death, – confirms the words of Viktor Shein Antonin Tsitsulin. – We had several unpleasant cases when small children were injured. The relevant departments carried out an inspection, and the result was a decision to change the technical regulations.
According to her, after the cases of injured children became known, some manufacturers drew attention to the fastening of magnets and began to post information about the age limit. In general, according to Tsitsulina, the situation with the safety of magnetic toys has improved recently.
At the same time, both manufacturers and sellers of magnetic toys see no reason to ban them.
The manager of the Neokub company told Izvestia that puzzles consisting of small magnetic parts are in great demand, the packaging indicates that this is a toy for children from 10 years old, so it poses no danger.
– Magnetism is successfully used in educational and developmental toys, children like it, why ban it? You just need to secure their use, – believes Antonina Tsitsulina.
In her opinion, children suffer from swallowed magnets due to parental oversight.
At the same time, surgeon Viktor Shein stressed that in European countries and in the United States, if a child is injured by a toy, it is removed from production and withdrawn from sale. For example, the largest American manufacturer of children’s toys Mattel did in 2008.
– Mattel has billions of copies and is insured. If we talk about a Russian manufacturer, then having got into such a situation, he technologically rebuilds production, for example, so that the magnets are inside the toy, – explained Antonina Tsitsulina.
Magnit and NCR have become strategic partners
Retail chain Magnit has signed a strategic partnership with the American company NCR, a major global supplier of products, solutions and services for retail chains, banking, financial and medical industries.Cooperation implies priority piloting of innovative technologies entering the Russian market. This will allow the retail chain to continue equipping facilities with modern technical solutions to improve store efficiency and customer loyalty, as well as be the first to test the introduction of innovative products.
As part of a five-year long-term partnership, the companies will exchange information and participate in the development of exclusive products and solutions aimed at increasing the operational efficiency of Magnit.NCR will also inform in advance about the release of new products and solutions to the Russian market, as well as provide equipment for testing as a priority.
Cooperation will allow Magnit to gain access to the entire product line of the partner and make the most of it. Potentially interesting equipment for the retailer includes cash registers and self-service kiosks, self-scanning systems for goods, video analytics systems based on artificial intelligence and computer vision, as well as software, in particular, for processing online orders.
As part of the retail network partnership, the Try & Buy option is available, due to which the company will be able to select the most effective solutions for itself, and Trade-in. This will make it easier to launch and integrate advanced technologies, as well as update existing ones. The partner is also ready to offer varieties of its equipment as a HaaS service (provision of hardware server infrastructure from the cloud.
“NCR has tremendous expertise in retail automation and is a global leader in advancing technology innovation, taking new approaches with the latest retail trends.Last year, the company exclusively provided us with transforming cash registers, which we have implemented and are testing in a new convenience store for large cities in Moscow. With the help of this partnership, we expect to improve the shopping experience and make our business even more efficient, “commented Ruslan Ismailov, Deputy General Director, Director of Retail Chain Management at Magnit.
Magnit and NCR have been successfully cooperating for over 5 years. During this time, in close work with colleagues from Magnit, we studied the behavioral patterns of buyers and launched a large number of stores with NCR technologies.This partnership agreement opens up new opportunities for us to jointly develop and test hypotheses of high-tech solutions in order to increase customer experience and loyalty, “commented Alexander Dmitriev, Regional Sales Director for Russia and the CIS, NCR.
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