Use moving electrically charged particles, such as a current in a wire, to make an electromagnet. y Magnetic field is a basic characteristic of elementary particles (such as electrons) just as mass and electric charge (or lack of charge) are basic characteristics. y These particles have an intrinsic magnetic field around them. y Permanent magnet: The magnetic fields of the electrons in certain materials add together to give a net magnetic field around the material. y In other materials, the magnetic fields of the electrons cancel out, giving no net magnetic field surrounding the material