Featured:
Allergies
Grilling Guide
eHow Now Blog

What Is the Most Important Usage of Electromagnets?

What Is the Most Important Usage of Electromagnets? thumbnail
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Machine

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is arguably the most important use of electromagnets as of 2009. Doctors use MRI scans thousands of times every day, allowing life-saving treatments for many diseases and injuries.

  1. Description

    • An MRI machine combines a strong electromagnet, a radio transmitter, and a computer. The magnet forces molecules to line up, radio waves probe the body, and the computer makes the images.

    Magnet

    • MRIs have some of the most powerful electromagnets in common use. Their magnetic field strength is 3 teslas, about 100,000 times stronger than the Earth's.

    Superconductor

    • The secret behind the electromagnet's strength is the superconducting wire. The magnet is immersed in liquid helium at --269C and has no electrical resistance.

    Current

    • Since the magnet has no resistance, it needs only an initial jolt of electricity. As long as the magnet stays cold, the same current will flow in it forever.

    History

    • Scientific development of MRI took place during the 1970s based on theoretical work done in the 1940s. The first commercial MRI was made in 1980.

Related Searches:

References

  • Photo Credit Image by Flickr.com, courtesy of liz west

Comments

You May Also Like

  • Why Is Iron the Best Core for an Electromagnet?

    An electromagnet is a type of man-made magnet. Though it is made out of materials that are not themselves magnetic, when power...

  • What Are the Uses for Electromagnets?

    Electromagnets and electromagnetism can be used for loud speakers, microphones, metal sorting and electric motors. Find out how to use electromagnets to...

  • What Are Electromagnets Used For in Everyday Life?

    Electromagnets are magnets powered by an electric current. They consist of a coil of wire. It's often wrapped around a magnetic core...

  • The Uses of Electromagnets in New Technology

    The Uses of Electromagnets in New Technology. The ability to stop, start and adjust their power levels set electromagnets apart from standard...

  • Why The Invention of The Telegraph Became Important

    According to World Book, the telegraph changed worldwide communications and was a primary mode of transferring important information for about 50 years,...

  • How Was the Electromagnet Used & Needed to Operate the Telegraph?

    The telegraph was a very important invention that revolutionized communication in the world due to its speed and ability to connect to...

  • What Is the Importance of Electromagnets?

    Electromagnets are components used in a variety of modern industrial machinery and is an iron cylinder coiled with wire, and surrounded by...

  • MRI Scan of Sinus Disease

    MRI, or magnetic resonance imaging, is a radiological study that uses strong magnets and radio waves. MRI scans are performed by radiology...

  • Electromagnet Uses

    Electromagnets are an important element in many electronics. They consist of a wire coil (solenoid) wrapped around an iron or steel core....

  • Three Uses of Electromagnets

    Electromagnets are everywhere. You may rarely consider this fact, but every time you crank up your car engine, turn on your laptop...

  • Why Are X-Rays Important?

    X-rays are the stuff of science fiction and common medical knowledge, yet beyond the pictures that show bones and lodged objects in...

  • About Electromagnets

    Electromagnets are a variety of magnets in which the magnetic pull is created via electricity, not through innate magnetic properties. While electromagnets...

  • What Are Electromagnets Used For?

    Electromagnets are like normal magnets, but with one major difference. Their magnetic strength is produced by electricity. Because of this, the electromagnet's...

  • Machines That Use Electromagnets

    MRI pictures made with the help of electromagnets MRI Gehirn image by Daniel Schmid from Fotolia.com

  • Types of MRI Scans

    An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scan is a form of soft-tissue testing that came to the forefront of diagnostic medicine in the...

  • The Most Important Uses of the Mineral Sapphire

    The Most Important Uses of the Mineral Sapphire. Sapphires are in the non-red corundum category of minerals and are considered the second...

  • Electromagnet Projects

    Electromagnet Projects. Electromagnets become magnetized only when an electric current runs through them. They've been used for decades in engineering projects. They're...

Related Ads

thumbnail
Featured