The Standard Electrical Dictionary Part 97

A magnet formed artificially by any method of magnetization (see Magnetism) applicable to permanent magnets, electro-magnets and solenoids. It expresses the distinction from the natural magnets or lodestone, q. v. It is made of steel in practice magnetized by some of the methods described under Magnetization.

336 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

Magnet, Axial.

A straight-solenoid with axial core.

Magnet, Bar.

A bar magnet is one in the shape of a bar, i. c., straight with parallel sides and considerably longer than wide or deep.

Magnet, Bell-shaped.

A form of permanent magnet used in some galvanometers. In shape it is a thick-sided cylindrical box with two slots cut out of opposite sides, so as to make it represent a horseshoe magnet. Its shape enables it to be surrounded closely by a ma.s.s of copper, for damping its motion, to render the instrument dead-beat. Such a magnet is used in Siemens & Halske's galvanometer.

Magnet Coil.

A coil to be thrust over an iron core, to make an electro-magnet. They are often wound upon paper or wooden bobbins or spools, so as to be removable from the core if desired.

Magnet, Compensating.

(a) A magnet fastened near a compa.s.s on an iron or steel s.h.i.+p to compensate the action of the metal of the s.h.i.+p upon the magnetic needle.

The s.h.i.+p itself always has some polarity and this is neutralized by one or more compensating magnets.

(b) See below.

Magnet, Controlling.

A magnet attached to a galvanometer by which the directive tendency of its magnetic needle is adjusted. In the reflecting galvanometer it often is a slightly curved magnet carried by a vertical bra.s.s spindle rising from the center of the instrument, and which magnet may be slid up and down on the spindle to regulate or adjust its action.

Synonym--Compensating Magnet.

Magnet, Compound.

A permanent magnet, built up of a number of magnets. Small bars can be more strongly magnetized than large. Hence a compound magnet may be made more powerful than a simple one.

Magnet Core.

The iron bar or other ma.s.s of iron around which insulated wire is wound for the production of an electro-magnet. The shapes vary greatly, especially for field magnets of dynamos and motors. For these they are usually made of cast iron, although wrought iron is preferable from the point of view of permeability.

Magnet, Damping.

A damping magnet is one used for bringing an oscillating body to rest.

The body may be a metallic disc or needle, and the action of the magnet depends on its lines of force which it establishes, so that the body has to cut them, and hence has its motion resisted.

337 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

Magnet, Deflection of.

The change of position of a magnet from the plane of the earth's meridian in which it normally is at rest into another position at some angle thereto, by the effect of an artificial magnetic field, as the deflection of a galvanometer needle.

Magnet, Electro-.

A magnet consisting of a bar of iron, bundle of iron wires, iron tube or some equivalent, around which a coil of insulated wire is wound. Such combination becomes polarized when a current is pa.s.sed through it and is an active magnet. On the cessation of the current its magnetism in part or almost completely disappears. (See Electro-magnet.)

Magnet, Equator of.

In a magnet the locus of points of no attractive power and of no polarity. In a symmetrical, evenly polarized magnet it is the imaginary line girdling the centre. The terms Neutral Point or Neutral Line have displaced it.

Synonyms--Neutral Line--Neutral Point.

Magnet, Field.

A magnet, generally an electro-magnet, used to produce the field in a dynamo or motor.

Magnet, Haarlem.

Celebrated magnets made in Haarlem, Holland. Logeman, Van Wetteren, Funckler and Van der Willigen were the makers who gave the celebrity to the magnets. They were generally horseshoe magnets, and would carry about twenty times their own weight.

Magnet, Horseshoe.

A magnet of U shape--properly one with the poles brought a little closer together than the rest of the limbs. For direct lifting and attractive effects it is the most generally adopted type. Its advantage as regards lifting effect is due to small reluctance, q. v., offered by a complete iron circuit, such as the armature and magnet together produce. As the term is now used it is applied to any U shaped magnet.

Fig. 218. JOULE'S ELECTRO-MAGNET.

Magnet, Joule's Electro.

An electro-magnet of the shape of a cylinder with a longitudinal segment cut-off. It is wound with wire as shown. The segment cut-off is a piece of the same shape as the armature. It is of high power.

338 STANDARD ELECTRICAL DICTIONARY.

Magnetic Adherence.

The tendency of a ma.s.s of iron to adhere to the poles of a magnet. It is best figured as due to the virtual shortening of lines of force, as the more permeable iron gives a better path for them than the air can afford, and consequently a virtually shorter one.

Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion.

The attraction of a magnet for iron, steel, nickel and cobalt and of unlike poles of magnets for each other. It is identical with electro-magnetic attraction, q.v. (Also see Electro-magnetism.)

Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion, Coulomb's Law of.

Magnetic attraction and repulsion are inversely as the square of the distance. (Ganot.)

While theoretically true in the case of isolated poles, in practise it does not generally apply on account of the large diameter and relative shortness of magnets.