How Magnets are Used in Electronics

The cellphone in your pocket, the tablet on your bedside table, the radio in your office, and the computer you’re currently reading this post on—what do all three of these have in common? We use these devices and many others on a daily basis, but rarely do we think about what they’re made of and how they work. If it weren’t for magnets, many of these things that we use daily would be limited. Read on to learn why. 

Magnetic Field Diode

In November 2018, researchers reported in Physical Review Letters that they had created a material that acts as a magnetic field diode. This device can transfer a magnetic field to an object, but not the other way around, as the current flows in only one direction. The researchers suggest it could eventually improve the efficiency of devices that rely on magnetically based wireless power transfer.

A Look into Wireless Charging

Today, wireless charging—also known as inductive charging—is a popular way to charge smartphones. But how does it work? Wireless charging utilizes an electromagnetic field - generated using coils that are found in both the charging station and the smartphone - to transfer energy between two objects through electromagnetic induction. 

A Look at Apple’s Use of Magnets Over the Years

It’s no secret that Apple is ahead of the game when it comes to technology, especially electronics and accessories that utilize magnets. From iPad covers and MagSafe charging adaptors to the Apple Watch and AirPods, Apple has found ways to combine the power, utility, and versitility of magnets for their products. 

Apple’s 2018 iPad Pro Contains 102 Magnets

We’d do you and ourselves a disservice if we didn’t also discuss Apple’s iPad Pro. Why? It contains 102 magnets. ONE HUNDRED AND TWO. That’s a lot of magnets. Mainly distributed along the edges of the tablet, magnets are used to hold the Apple Pencil stylus to the side of the tablet and to attach the Smart Keyboard Folio. The neat thing about these magnets is that they aren’t visible to the naked eye—you can only see them with magnetic field viewing film!

Build Your Own Speakers with Magnets

Magnets play a crucial role in the functionality of speakers and headphones—being responsible for converting electrical energy into sound energy. As an electric current travels through the coil of a speaker, it becomes an electromagnet that is attracted to, and then repelled by, a permanent magnet. The movement of the coil moves the “cone” of the speaker, which then produces sound energy. Here, we put together an activity where you can build your own basic speaker to further understand how magnets play a role in sound transmission. 

Learn More with Apex Magnets 

We wouldn’t be able to do all that we do if it wasn’t for the magnets found in our electronics. For monthly updates in how magnets increase our technological capabilities, subscribe to our newsletter. You’ll also receive valuable coupons available exclusively for subscribers!