Question

Do you think an electromagnet can be used for separating plastic bags from a garbage heap? Explain.

Answer 1

1. The type of magnet in which a magnetic field is produced by an electric current is termed electromagnet.
2. Electromagnets consist of coils of wire through which current passes. The moving charges produce a magnetic field and the coils start acting as magnets.
3. Since plastic is a non-magnetic material, it cannot be attracted using electromagnets.

Principle of electromagnets:

1. Individual magnetic fields cancel each other out because the atoms in the nail are oriented in random directions.
2. These atoms are reoriented by an electric current to start pointing in the same direction.
3. All of these individual magnetic fields combine to form a powerful magnetic field.
4. As the current flow increases, so does the degree of reorientation, resulting in a stronger magnetic field.
5. When all of the particles are perfectly reoriented in the same direction, increasing the current flow has no effect on the magnetic field produced.
6. The magnet is said to be saturated at this point.

Hence, plastic bags in garbage heaps cannot be separated using electromagnets.