Permanent and Induced Magnets

In this lesson you will learn the difference between permanent magnets and induced magnets, and explore how materials can be classified as magnetically hard or magnetically soft. This maps to AQA GCSE Combined Science Trilogy (8464) specification section 6.7.1 — Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields.

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Permanent Magnets

A permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field. It does not need an external source of energy or another magnetic field to be magnetic.

Properties of Permanent Magnets

• Always have a north pole and a south pole.
• Produce a magnetic field at all times.
• Made from magnetically hard materials (e.g. steel, alnico, neodymium).
• Retain their magnetism for a very long time.
• Examples: bar magnets, horseshoe magnets, fridge magnets.

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Induced Magnets

An induced magnet is a material that becomes magnetic only when it is placed in a magnetic field. When the external field is removed, the induced magnet loses most or all of its magnetism.

Properties of Induced Magnets