What is the function of magnets in microphones and speakers?

The function of magnets in microphones and speakers primarily revolves around their ability to create a magnetic field that interacts with sound waves. In these devices, a magnet works in conjunction with a coil of wire. When sound waves hit the diaphragm of a microphone, it vibrates, causing the coil to move within the magnetic field created by the magnet. This movement induces an electrical current, which corresponds to the sound wave's frequency and amplitude.

In speakers, the process is somewhat reversed. An electrical current passes through the coil, creating a magnetic field that interacts with the permanent magnet. This interaction causes the diaphragm to move back and forth, producing sound waves that we hear.

By generating a magnetic field, magnets enable the crucial conversion processes between sound waves and electrical signals, serving as the foundation of how microphones and speakers function.