The Uses of Magnets

Magnets are materials which have a magnetic field, and have the capability to attract ferrous components like iron, steel, cobalt and nickel. In the olden days, the Greeks discovered a natural element called 'lodestone', which had the ability to attract ferrous materials, and since that time onwards the discovery of magnets began. Due to today's technological advances, magnets are produced by artificial means in different shapes and sizes, depending on what are they going to be used for.

The bar rectangular magnet is one of the simplest type of magnet used today. Magnets are also commonly used in compass needles which are helpful to travelers for directions. The compass needle comprises a small magnet that freely moves in a horizontal direction on a pivot. Its one end points to the north, while the other end shows the south direction.

Uses of Magnets

Medical
According to Chinese inscriptions in 2000 BC, 'lodestones' were used in acupuncture treatments. Hindu sacred writings also refer to the use of 'lodestones' in the treatments of disorders. Likewise, the Greeks and the Egyptians also utilized them to cure various diseases. Ancient physicians described how magnets had the ability to cure melancholy, arthritis, and baldness.

Nowadays, tectonic magnets are used by many sportsmen to reduce or relieve pain. They are placed on the innersoles of shoes, and are designed in such a manner that they would make contact with the acupressure points present on the soles of the feet. This technique is proven to be helpful for the feet, especially on long walks. Magnetic mattress pads also provide relaxation to the body, and are very helpful for insomniacs. Magnetic beds are used to provide easiness to the nervous system, which may make a person emotionally and physically loosened up. Magnets are also used in X-Rays, and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) technology, which enables one to know how body tissues respond to the magnetic fields.

Consumer Goods
Magnets are a very important part of a televisions. The Cathode Ray Tubes (CRT) consist of an electron gun in their neck, which shoots a stream of electrons on the screen. Generally, the electrons are released in a straight line, and impact the center point of the screen. Electromagnets which are present in the tube's neck turn away the electrons towards the top, bottom, right, or left side of the tube. This process makes the inside coating of the screen to glow, which enables images and videos to be shown on the television.

Magnets also play an important role in computer disks which are coated with iron material that store small magnetic fields in a specific format. Moreover, magnets are incorporated in computer monitors which work in the same manner as a television. Video tapes consist of same components along with iron compounds, which enable the magnetic fields to be stored in a particular fashion on the tape. The ATM and credit cards which are commonly used nowadays also contain magnets.

Household accessories and items like loudspeakers, home theaters, headphones, telephone receivers, etc., also include magnets in their mechanism.

Industrial Machinery
Powerful magnets such as conveyor magnets are used in industries to carry out their manufacturing operations. During the production process, goods are transferred from one place or process to the other, using conveyor belt systems. This is usually done in the case of plastic, wood, or food processing. The conveyor magnets are responsible for removing all metal waste materials from the goods on the conveyor belt, leaving only the pure needed components for further processing. The magnet prevents the metal waste from being included in the later processes such as grinding. In the same manner, magnets are installed in large machinery which make their respective operations easy and quick.

Magnets are important components in most of the things that we use daily. As technology progresses, there would be more and more functions and uses of magnets coming up in various systems and machinery.