Question

The substance most suitable as core of an electromagnet is soft iron. This is due its:

• A. low retentivity
• B. high resistance
• C. high conductivity
• D. low density

Answer 1

Answer:

A. low retentivity

• Low retentivity, which makes soft iron a suitable material for the core of an electromagnet.

• Soft iron is a type of iron that is commonly used as the core of an electromagnet because of its unique properties:

1. High permeability: Soft iron can easily conduct magnetic fields, making it an ideal material for electromagnet cores.

2. Low retentivity: Soft iron has a low retentivity, meaning it does not retain its magnetic properties when the current is turned off. This is important because it allows the electromagnet to be easily turned on and off.

• If the core material had high retentivity, it would retain its magnetic properties even when the current is turned off, which would make it difficult to control the electromagnet.