Electromagnets are made of soft iron because soft iron has
- low retentivity and high coercive force
- high retentivity and high coercive force
- low retentivity and low coercive force
- high retentivity and low coercive force
Answer
(3) low retentivity and low coercive force
Solution
An electromagnet must become magnetised when current flows and lose its magnetism as soon as the current is switched off.
It needs a narrow hysteresis loop: low retentivity and low coercivity (and high permeability).
As per NCERT, soft iron, with its narrow hysteresis loop, low retentivity and low coercivity, is a suitable material for electromagnets.
Answer: (3)