How does a MAGNET work?

Question

How does a MAGNET work?

Answer 1

atomic dipoles in the material align together easily and are permanent.

Not paramagnetic (which is temporary).

"Every electron, on account of its spin, is a small magnet (see Electron magnetic dipole moment). In most materials, the countless electrons have randomly oriented spins, leaving no magnetic effect on average. However, in a bar magnet many of the electron spins are aligned in the same direction, so they act cooperatively, creating a net magnetic field."

"The phenomenon of magnetism is "mediated" by the magnetic field -- i.e., an electric current or magnetic dipole creates a magnetic field, and that field, in turn, imparts magnetic forces on other particles that are in the fields."

"Therefore magnetism is seen whenever electrically charged particles are in motion---for example, from movement of electrons in an electric current, or in certain cases from the orbital motion of electrons around an atom's nucleus. They also arise from "intrinsic" magnetic dipoles arising from quantum effects, i.e. from quantum-mechanical spin."

Answer 2

A permanent magnet is made up of atoms whose nuclei possess a magnetic field owing to their structure. These tiny little fields align with one another to form what is called a magnetic domain. When the magnetic domains have their fields aligned too in the process of making the permanent magnet, all the individual magnetic fields add together to give rise to the magnetic effects we see.

An electromagnet is created by a set of wires (regular or superconducting) carrying a large direct current. The electrical current causes a magnetic field that one can turn on and off by switching the current.

Answer 3

If you place a piece of paper over a horseshoe magnet and sprinkle iron filings on the paper they will align along lines of flux from pole to pole.  If you place a piece of iron between the poles all of the iron atoms within the sample will temporarily align with the lines of flux as though they are tiny magnets.  Opposite poles attract which is the reason that the north-seeking end of a compass needle is actually a magnetic south pole.  If the iron sample is heated (red hot, etc.) then cooled within the magnetic flux the iron atoms will be free to permanently realign producing a permanent magnet.