Without magnetism, we would be without many of the gadgets and technology that are now a part of our everyday lives. Many innovators use magnets to create unique and useful inventions. In this blog, we have listed some of the most influential inventions that would not have been possible without the help of magnetism.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Magnetic resonance imaging or MRI machines have become an essential part of medical diagnosis and treatment. MRIs allow doctors to see inside a patient without needing to perform any invasive procedure. When you go to the hospital for a broken bone, head trauma or almost any ailment, MRIs are commonly used to learn more about your condition. A fun fact about this invention is that it wasn’t created by a professional engineer, but by the very demographic that uses it, physicians. Physician
Raymond Damadian built the earliest version of the MRI, and it has forever changed medicine.
Motors
Almost anything that is powered by electricity, uses some form of magnetism. Blenders, cars, electric toothbrushes, and much more use a motor in their design. Motor magnets help to power these devices.
Nikola Tesla had developed the concept of the AC, or alternating current motor over 100 years ago, but it is still an important part of electronics created today.
Maglev
Maglev trains use magnetism and superconductors to seemingly float above the rails at high speeds. When exposed to extremely cold temperatures, some materials enter a state of zero electrical resistance, making them superconductors that expel magnetic fields. This expulsion is what causes the trains to float above the tracks. Maglev trains are not necessarily prominent all over the world, but they do play an important role in transportation in parts of Japan and China.
In the future, magnets will continue to play an important part in innovative designs and technology. Can you think of any other influential inventions that were made possible by magnetism?
