• Question: Why were electromagnets made?

    Asked by lucylocket to Daniel, Freya, James, Miranda, Usman on 17 Jun 2015.
    • Photo: Usman Bashir

      Usman Bashir answered on 17 Jun 2015:

      William Sturgeon, an English scientist invented the earliest electromagnets.
      I don’t know why he made them, perhaps he was curious after observing electromagnetism. From early on, scientists knew what they were doing and were able to use these motors to drive vehicles (boat in 1838).

    • Photo: James Gilbert

      James Gilbert answered on 17 Jun 2015:

      Hi Lucy,

      Electromagnets are REALLY useful. Speakers and headphones are a type of electromagnet. Also, nearly all electric motors have electromagnets inside. Obviously motors can turn electricity into motion, but did you know they can do the opposite as well? If you have something that turns, like a water wheel, and you want to generate electricity from it, then you can make a motor work in reverse – this is called a generator. So without electromagnets, we wouldn’t be able to generate power from water, wind, or even coal (which is burned to make steam which turns a generator)!

    • Photo: Freya Wilson

      Freya Wilson answered on 19 Jun 2015:

      I think making electromagnets naturally came out of looking and exploring electricity and magnetism. Wondering what happens if you put electricity around a magnet and seeing what happens. It turns out they can be used for all sorts! So they were definitely a good idea!

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