What is a Ferrite Magnet?
Ferrite magnets are a large class of magnets that include chemical compounds such as hematite (Fe2<>3) and magnetite (Fe3O4), which is the most magnetic naturally occurring mineral on Earth. Every ferrite magnet is a ceramic, and of course a magnet, meaning it attracts other ferromagnetic materials and attracts or repels other magnets. A ferrite magnet is the most simple type of magnet, in contrast to more sophisticated magnets like Alnico magnets or neodymium magnets (rare-earth magnets). Ferrite magnets are permanent magnets, unlike electromagnets which are only magnetic when supplied with an electric current. The first magnets that one is exposed to as a child are likely to be ferrite magnets, as they are the cheapest and most common. The stereotypical magnetic interaction one typically sees is the interaction between a ferrite magnet, usually magnetite, with iron filings. The resulting pattern that the filings are pulled into reveals the shape of the magnetic field produced by the
