magnet is a object capable of producing a magnetic field around it, having two main poles: one of attraction and the other of repulsion.
Also known as magneto, the magnet is made of a material ferromagnetic and its magnetic action is formed due to the constant movement of electrons in its interior.
Magnets are dipole objects, that is, they have two poles that attract or repel other ferromagnetic and some paramagnetic materials. The magnet's north pole is attracted to the Earth's south magnetic pole, while the magnet's south pole is related to the geographic north pole.
The poles of the magnets, however, are inseparable. For example, if a magnet is split in half, two smaller magnets with two poles each (north and south) will emerge.
According to the natural rule, magnetic poles of the same nature repel each other, while different poles attract.
However, magnets no longer generate a magnetic field when they are subjected to certain high temperatures. For example, an iron magnet loses its magnetic force when heated to 770 degrees Celsius, a point known as the “Curie temperature”.
Types of magnets
There are four main classifications of magnets: permanent or temporal, and natural or artificial.
Natural magnets: they are magnetites, natural minerals with magnetic properties, composed essentially of iron ore (iron oxide).
Artificial Magnets: are formed through a process called magnetization, when they “absorb” the magnetic properties of a natural magnet, through the presence of an electromagnetic body.
Permanent Magnets: are those who hardly lose their magnetic field. They are made from magnetized steel (with a high carbon content).
Temporal magnets: have momentary magnetic properties, especially when they are connected to sources of electromagnetic waves. They are made from paramagnetic materials (irons with low carbon content).
There are still other types of magnets, such as the electromagnet it's the Neodymium's magnet, made with a combination of neodymium, iron and boron, and features an extremely powerful magnetic capability.
See also: the meaning of magnetism.
Difference between magnet and magnet
There is a lot of confusion about the correct spelling of these terms. Magnet and magnet are very similar words, but they have totally different meanings in the Portuguese language.
Magnet (with an acute accent on the letter “i”) refers to the magnet, that is, the object that produces or reproduces a magnetic field around it.
the term magnet (without the acute accent) or imam it is of Arabic origin and means “the one who guides”, representing the position of an important religious figure for the Islamic people. The imam can assume different positions and degrees of importance, depending on the Islamic doctrine or sect followed.
Learn more about meaning of Islam.