What is residual magnetism?

Residual magnetism refers to the phenomenon where a material retains a small amount of magnetism after it has been removed from the influence of an external magnetic field. This occurs in ferromagnetic materials, such as iron, which have the ability to be magnetized easily and also retain some level of magnetism even after the external magnetic field is no longer present.

When a ferromagnetic material is magnetized, the magnetic domains within the material align in the direction of the applied magnetic field. Once the external field is removed, some of these domains may remain aligned, resulting in a residual magnetic field. This residual magnetism can be beneficial in various applications, such as in magnetic storage or when creating permanent magnets.

Understanding residual magnetism is important in fields like electrical power production, as it can affect the performance and efficiency of machinery, transformers, and other electrical devices that rely on magnetic principles.