Electromagnets at work INCE THE TIME oF STURGEON AND HENRY, electromagnets central components in electrical machines. Their power and hold iron-containing materials, for example, S steel ca from aluminium ones at the recycling centre, their only use. An electromagnet is a convenient way of turning electrical energy into rotary motion, using the forces of magnetic attraction and repulsion in electric motors pp. 38-39). The reverse occurs in generators pp. is converted into push- ve s by electromagnetic and The operate movement mechanical de such as telegraph receivers. Electro used in is also'fan electrica transformers pp. 40-41), and to manipulate atoms in particle accelerators. Contact points