Rachel Smith Mr.

Parente Period 5 Physics 2 Honors

The telephone, a relatively simple yet essential part of our modern culture, relies on interactions between a permanent magnet and an electromagnet to translate electrical information into physical sound waves. But how exactly does the telephone work? Is a simple home telephone any different than a cellular telephone? The answer to these questions, although one might think to be complicated and confusing, are actually very simple as well as easy to understand. Although most people take it for granted, the telephone is one of the most amazing devices ever created. If there is a message that needs to get from one person to another, all that has to be is to pick up the phone and dial a few digits. There is an instantly connected to that person, and a two-way conversation is suddenly made possible. The telephone network extends worldwide, so it is easy to reach nearly anyone on the planet. When compared to the state of the world just 100 years ago, when it might have taken several weeks to get a one-way written message to someone, it becomes clear as to just how amazing the telephone is Surprisingly, a telephone is one of the simplest devices you have in your house. It is so simple because the telephone connection to your house has not changed in nearly a century. If you have an antique phone from the 1920s, you could connect it to the wall jack in your house and it would work fine. There are four major aspects to the telephone regarding magnetism, each of which contributes differently. The first one is a Permanent Magnet. Other kinds of alloys such as alnico (an alloy of aluminum, nickel, iron, cobalt), make excellent permanent magnets. Ferrites (ceramic like materials made of iron oxides with nickel and cobalt) also make excellent permanent magnets. In these materials the domains are more difficult to dislodge, once they are aligned. With that being said, the telephone's speaker contains a permanent magnet--one that

retains its magnetism constantly. The "north" on this magnet points toward the speaker membrane. Following Permanent Magnet is Electromagnet. Electromagnets are used when extremely strong magnets are required. Electromagnets are produced by placing a metal core (usually an iron alloy) inside a coil of wire carrying an electric current. The electricity in the coil produces a magnetic field. Its strength depends on the strength of the electric current and the number of coils of wire. Its polarity depends on the direction of the current flow. While the current flows, the core behaves like a magnet, but as soon as the current stops, the magnetic properties are lost. In addition to telephones, electric motors, televisions, maglev trains, computers and many other modern devices use electromagnets. When talking about the telephone, the wire coil that carries electrical current to the speaker works as an electromagnet, becoming charged with magnetism only when current travels through it. Next is Interaction. As the electrical current travels through the wire, the wire magnetizes and demagnetizes many times per second, interacting with the permanent magnet to push and pull the speaker membrane into vibration. Finally there is Frequency Reproduction. To reproduce natural sound frequencies, the speaker membrane must vibrate at a certain number of cycles per second, requiring the magnetic field to change direction at the same frequency. The pitch "A," for instance, requires 440 magnetic-field reversals per second. It is clear that magnetism is used in a very specific way when talking about telephones and landlines, but what about cellular telephones? Is it any different? The answer is yes. Many cell phones do not have any magnets inside, and are completely unaffected when normal magnets are placed near them. However, magnets are used with other cell phones in a variety of ways. Many folding or sliding cell phones have magnets inside to hold them closed in a way that

is easy to open. In addition, the speaker in the cell phone may be the kind of speaker that has a small magnet inside. There is also a microphone on all cell phones that is most likely of the "electric" type. That indicates that the phone does not include any batteries; cell phones don't use kinds of microphones that include batteries. Many cell phones have a small motor inside that is used when the cell phone is set to "vibrate". That motor typically has a permanent magnet inside. Some cell phones, when an external magnet is placed in the middle, turn off the screen and go into a low-power state and ignore button presses. They are designed to do this so that when they are placed in a cell phone holster (most of which have a small magnet to hold them shut) and then the buttons are accidentally bumped, they don't accidentally do something that would drain the battery. In the end it is evident that magnetism is used in abundance when refereeing to the telephone. But it is also used in a wide variety of other things. As stated above, magnetism can also be found in things such as electric motors, televisions, maglev trains, computers and many other modern devices. Magnetism is an essential part of the everyday life of a average American. Most of the time it is taken for granted or ignored all together, but it is evident that magnets are everywhere, weather people are aware of it, now thats another story.

Works Cited "Background Information for Magnets." Background Information for Magnets. Web. 23 May 2012.<http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/schoolzone/Information_Magneti c.cfm>. "How Are Magnets Used in Cell Phones?" WikiAnswers. Answers. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_are_magnets_used_in_cell_phones>. "How Telephones Work." HowStuffWorks. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/telephone.htm>. Norman, William. "Why Are Magnets in Telephones?" EHow. Demand Media, 23 Feb. 2010. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://www.ehow.com/facts_6018297_magnets-telephones_.html>. "The Research Bunker." The Research Bunker. Web. 23 May 2012. <http://rmsbunkerblog.wordpress.com/2012/04/04/how-does-the-erosion-of-landlinetelephones-impact-market-research/>.