With the great applications of permanent magnets, you can see them almost everywhere! But, do you know what are magnets and how can they be used?

Permanent magnets are metals that carry a charge and are surrounded by a charged field. Commonly, this is referred to as magnetism, and it is a naturally occurring phenomenon in many different minerals found throughout the earth. Magnets are used from the extremely mundane to the rather complex inner workings of electrical components. So, while there is a magnet holding a child’s report card to a fridge, there is also magnets found in hard drives, ear phones, and other devices.

Beyond those mentioned, there are also industrial uses, and permanent magnets can be found in automobiles and and large mechanized machines. Their usage over time has evolved to miniturized used in earing clasps and kids’ toys and playthings. Nearly everybody who has grown up in the United States recently will remember alphabetic Fridge Magnets. These were items that were dual purposed for general use and teaching kids to read.

Still, magnets can grow more complex depending on their use. The Mars rover, for example, employs a large neodymium magnet. It helps collect iron dust floating in the cold Martian air. If you think about it, it is hard to go a day without coming into a magnet of some shape or size.

As technology advances, the use of permanent magnets will only advance. There will be more and more applications found and employed. This may prove a defining political issue for years to come, because the magnets employed in cell phones and electronics are rare and can only be found in certain countries.