Thread: help me understand better the relationship between temperature and magnetism.

I was reading just now that cobalts magnetism is 2/3's as strong as irons, but that it maintains this magnetism to higher temperatures.

Whats the relationship between magnetism and temperature? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thank u.

Iron's magnetism is the result of sizable domains of atoms all aligned. High temperatures can knock those atoms out of alignment--so can dropping a magnet.

well played. I didn't consider arrangement of atoms I was thinking more in the direction of individual atoms.

I guess cobalt is less susceptible to that disruption. I didn't really know that before I read this thread (it's very possible that a lawyer could prove I read it in a book sometime and I should have known it.) I wonder if it can stand impacts better too.

Most of the effect we know as magnetism, as solid magnets, apparently arises mostly from the magnetic moment of the electron, which probably is not affected much by temperature. I dunno.

Originally Posted by grapes

Most of the effect we know as magnetism, as solid magnets, apparently arises mostly from the magnetic moment of the electron, which probably is not affected much by temperature. I dunno.

That was my thought. I'm figuring now the arrangement and composition (elementally) of the atoms is what determines it's ability to lose electrons. Temperature does play a part though because the super magnets work at low temperatures, right?

Originally Posted by JFalz1024

That was my thought. I'm figuring now the arrangement and composition (elementally) of the atoms is what determines it's ability to lose electrons. Temperature does play a part though because the super magnets work at low temperatures, right?

But why would someone spend all that money to raise the temperature of a magnet if it works perfectly well at low temperatures? Just wondering why, if it's not needed, spend the money?

In the case of super-magnets they only really work at low temperatures. For some applications that is alright. If we want them to take on a larger role in society we will have to find a compound that doesn't lose its magnetism as the temperature increases.

Originally Posted by David E. Eaton Sr.

But why would someone spend all that money to raise the temperature of a magnet if it works perfectly well at low temperatures? Just wondering why, if it's not needed, spend the money?

Low temperatures, really low. Expensively low.