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A permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field, while an induced magnet becomes magnetic only when placed in a magnetic field. Free GCSE Physics notes.
Permanent vs. Induced Magnets is part of Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields in GCSE AQA Higher Physics.
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A permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field, while an induced magnet becomes magnetic only when placed in a magnetic field. Free GCSE Physics notes.
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Use this lesson to stay inside Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields while connecting the detail back to the wider Magnetism and electromagnetism topic.
Read the core explanations from Permanent vs. Induced Magnets before testing yourself from memory.
You've probably played with magnets before - watching them snap together or push apart like invisible hands are controlling them. But here's the mystery: why do some materials stay magnetic forever while others only become magnetic when you bring a magnet close?
The answer lies in understanding two completely different types of magnetism. Some materials are like permanent torches - they produce their own magnetic field all the time. Others are like mirrors - they only reflect magnetism when there's already a magnetic field present.
This difference isn't just academic curiosity. It explains why your fridge magnets stick permanently, why paperclips jump towards magnets, and why electromagnets can be switched on and off. Let's unlock the secret behind magnetic behaviour.
Think of a permanent magnet as a magnetic generator that never runs out of power. Bar magnets, horseshoe magnets, and those colourful fridge magnets are all permanent magnets. They create their own magnetic field that extends out into the space around them.
The key word here is 'produces'. A permanent magnet doesn't need any help - no external magnetic field, no electricity, no pushing or pulling. It generates magnetism from within its own structure. The magnetic field lines flow from the north pole to the south pole, creating a continuous loop.
**Trap**: Many students think permanent magnets can lose their magnetism easily. Actually, permanent magnets are remarkably stable. They can maintain their magnetism for decades or even centuries unless subjected to extreme heat, strong opposing magnetic fields, or physical damage.
Induced magnets are the chameleons of the magnetic world. They have no magnetic personality of their own - they copy whatever magnetic field is nearby. Bring a permanent magnet close to a paperclip, and the paperclip becomes a temporary magnet. Move the permanent magnet away, and the paperclip loses its magnetism almost instantly.
The process works like this: when you place a magnetic material (like iron, steel, nickel, or cobalt) in a magnetic field, the field causes the tiny magnetic regions inside the material to line up. This alignment creates temporary north and south poles in the material, making it behave like a magnet.
Here's the crucial point that catches many students out: **induced magnetism always causes attraction, never repulsion**. When a permanent magnet approaches a magnetic material, the induced poles always arrange themselves to create an attractive force. If the north pole of a permanent magnet approaches a paperclip, the end of the paperclip closest to the magnet becomes a south pole.
Common examples of materials that become induced magnets include paperclips, iron nails, steel screws, and the steel door of your refrigerator. These materials are magnetic, but they don't produce their own magnetic fields - they only respond to external magnetic fields.
Understanding the differences between permanent and induced magnets isn't just about definitions - it's about predicting behaviour. When you see a magnet and a piece of iron in an exam question, you need to know instantly what will happen.
**Source of magnetism**: Permanent magnets generate their own magnetic field from their internal structure. Induced magnets only become magnetic when an external magnetic field is applied to them. Remove the external field, and the induced magnetism disappears.
**Duration of magnetism**: Permanent magnets maintain their magnetism indefinitely under normal conditions. Induced magnets lose their magnetism quickly when removed from the magnetic field - usually within seconds or minutes for soft magnetic materials like iron.
**Force behaviour**: Permanent magnets can attract or repel other permanent magnets depending on which poles are brought together. Induced magnets always attract towards the permanent magnet that created them - there's no such thing as induced repulsion.
The difference between permanent and induced magnets explains countless everyday phenomena. Your fridge door stays closed because the rubber seal contains permanent magnets that attract to the steel door (which becomes an induced magnet). Scrapyard electromagnets work because they create strong magnetic fields that induce magnetism in steel cars and machinery.
Magnetic separators in recycling plants use this principle too. They create powerful magnetic fields that induce magnetism in iron and steel objects, allowing these materials to be separated from non-magnetic waste like aluminium, plastic, and glass.
Credit cards and bank cards use permanent magnets in their magnetic strips to store data. The magnetism needs to be permanent so the information doesn't disappear when you move the card away from card readers.
Temporary electromagnets in electric bells and buzzers rely on induced magnetism. When electricity flows through the coil, it creates a magnetic field that induces magnetism in the iron core. When the electricity stops, the induced magnetism disappears, allowing the mechanism to reset.
Exam questions on magnetism often test whether you can distinguish between permanent and induced magnets in practical situations. The key is to look for clues about whether the material produces its own magnetic field or only responds to external fields.
**Command word focus**: 'Describe' questions want you to state what happens without explanation. 'Explain' questions need you to give reasons using scientific principles. For magnetism, always mention whether poles attract or repel, and whether magnetism is permanent or induced.
**Common mistake**: Students often say 'the paperclip becomes magnetised' without specifying that it's temporary. Always state that induced magnetism is lost when the external magnetic field is removed. This precision gets you the marks.
**Mark-winning language**: Use the exact specification terms - 'permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field' and 'induced magnet becomes magnetic when placed in a magnetic field'. Don't paraphrase these definitions.
Worked example: Worked Method: Permanent vs. Induced Magnets
Use the relevant formula, substitute values with units, calculate, then state the final answer clearly.
Answer: Final answer should include unit and appropriate significant figures.
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Move to the related lessons or back to the topic page when you need the wider sequence before exam-style practice.
A permanent magnet is a material that produces its own magnetic field without needing an external magnetic field, and its magnetism lasts indefinitely under normal conditions. Bar magnets, horseshoe magnets and fridge magnets are permanent magnets.
An induced magnet is a material that becomes magnetic only when placed in a magnetic field. When removed from the field, it loses most or all of its magnetism quickly, like a paperclip near a magnet.
Scrapyard electromagnets create strong magnetic fields that induce magnetism in steel cars and machinery. The induced magnets are attracted to the electromagnet, so the cars can be lifted.
A permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field without needing an external field, and its magnetism lasts. An induced magnet becomes magnetic only when placed in a magnetic field and loses most or all of its magnetism quickly when removed.
Magnetic separators in recycling plants create powerful magnetic fields that induce magnetism in iron and steel objects. This lets these materials be separated from non-magnetic waste like aluminium, plastic and glass; scrapyard electromagnets work on the same principle.
Induced magnetism always causes attraction, never repulsion. When the north pole of a permanent magnet approaches a paperclip, the end of the paperclip closest to the magnet becomes a south pole, so the paperclip is attracted.
Magnetic materials include iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. When placed in a magnetic field, the tiny magnetic regions inside them line up, creating temporary north and south poles so they behave like magnets.
A paperclip sticks to a magnet because it becomes an induced magnet: the magnet's field lines up the magnetic regions inside it, and the induced poles always arrange themselves to attract. Move the magnet away and the paperclip loses its magnetism almost instantly.
Permanent magnets are remarkably stable and can keep their magnetism for decades or even centuries. They only lose it through extreme heat, strong opposing magnetic fields or physical damage.
An induced magnet loses its magnetism quickly when removed from the magnetic field, usually within seconds or minutes for soft magnetic materials like iron. A paperclip loses its magnetism almost instantly.
A fridge door stays closed because the rubber seal contains permanent magnets that attract the steel door. The steel becomes an induced magnet, and induced magnetism always causes attraction.
Credit cards and bank cards use permanent magnets in their magnetic strips to store data. The magnetism must be permanent so the information does not disappear when the card is moved away from card readers.
In an electric bell, electricity flowing through a coil creates a magnetic field that induces magnetism in the iron core. When the electricity stops, the induced magnetism disappears, allowing the mechanism to reset.
When the north pole of a permanent magnet approaches a paperclip, the end of the paperclip closest to the magnet becomes a south pole. The induced poles always arrange themselves to create attraction.
When a magnetic material such as iron, steel, nickel or cobalt is placed in a magnetic field, the tiny magnetic regions inside it line up. This alignment creates temporary north and south poles, so the material behaves like a magnet.