Question

An electromagnet:

• A. has its own persistent magnetic field
• B. acts as a magnet when an electric current passes through it
• C. both A and B
• D. none of the above

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

acts as a magnet when an electric current passes through it

An electromagnet is a soft metal core made into a magnet by the passage of electric current through a coil surrounding it.

Electromagnets usually consist of a large number of closely spaced turns of wire that create the magnetic field. The wire turns are often wound around a magnetic core made from a ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material such as iron; the magnetic core concentrates the magnetic flux and makes a more powerful magnet.