Magnetism's ability to serve mankind especially lies in its relationship to electricity. Remember that the minute electrical current within the atom causes magnetism in the first place. In fact, magnetism and electricity are so closely related that each one causes the other.
Electricity flowing through a wire causes that wire to become magnetized. No, the wire will not attract other metals because the magnetic field surrounds the wire in a circular pattern, having no definite poles. But if the wire is coiled like thread on a spool, the magnetic field around each coil amplifies that of its neighbor, resulting in one large magnetic field. The more numerous the loops or coils of wire, the stronger the magnet produced. This magnet can be turned on and off simply by turning on and off the electricity flowing through it. If there is no electrical current, there is no magnetic field. This type of magnet is called an electromagnet.
Electricity flowing through a wire causes that wire to become magnetized. No, the wire will not attract other metals because the magnetic field surrounds the wire in a circular pattern, having no definite poles. But if the wire is coiled like thread on a spool, the magnetic field around each coil amplifies that of its neighbor, resulting in one large magnetic field. The more numerous the loops or coils of wire, the stronger the magnet produced. This magnet can be turned on and off simply by turning on and off the electricity flowing through it. If there is no electrical current, there is no magnetic field. This type of magnet is called an electromagnet.
