magnet: Quick Facts

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Last updated

Nov. 12, 2026

News •

The fastest levitated spinning magnet ever made might help physicists search for dark matter • Nov. 9, 2026, 12:30 PM ET (Phys.org)

'Smoking gun' may help solve mystery of high-temperature superconductivity • Oct. 20, 2026, 4:00 PM ET (Phys.org)

Photos and Videos

Typical hysterisis loop

Two illustrations of bar magnets: on the left, a hand brings the north pole of one magnet near the south pole of another, showing attraction; on the right, a hand brings two north poles close, showing repulsion.

Figure 1: Magnet in Stern-Gerlach experimentA beam of silver atoms is passed between the north (N) and south (S) poles of a magnet. The poles are shaped so that the magnetic field varies greatly in strength over a very small distance. The knife-edge of S results in a much stronger magnetic field at point P than at point Q.

Figure 6: Synchrotron with alternating-gradient focusing, showing the placement of the two types of magnets. Shown at the bottom is a cross section of a typical magnet with the two different types of pole-tips used (see text).

magnets and their associated magnetic field lines

Learn about magnetic fields and the levels of particles, atoms, crystals, and domains

Study the phenomena of ferromagnetism, antiferromagnetism, and paramagnetism and also how temperature affects magnetic properties

How do magnetic forces and poles work?

Learn about Michael Faraday's and James Clerk Maxwell's discovery of the electromagnetic field and waves

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Topics

permanent magnet electromagnet How do magnets work?bar magnet relay circuit breaker solenoid reed relay magnetism magnetic circuit magnetic pole magnetic mirror electromagnetic induction ferromagnetism antiferromagnetism ferrimagnetism paramagnetism diamagnetism

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Key People

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John Canton

British physicist

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Gowin Knight

English scientist