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Unit 16 - Magnetism (Physics)

The document discusses magnetism and magnetic fields, including defining permanent and induced magnets, how to magnetize and demagnetize materials, and the properties of electromagnetic fields. It describes how to create electromagnets using coils of wire and how the strength of the magnetic field depends on factors like the current flowing through the wire. Examples of applications that use electromagnets like cranes, speakers, and tape recorders are also provided.

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Nur Maryam Hibatullah
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116 views

Unit 16 - Magnetism (Physics)

The document discusses magnetism and magnetic fields, including defining permanent and induced magnets, how to magnetize and demagnetize materials, and the properties of electromagnetic fields. It describes how to create electromagnets using coils of wire and how the strength of the magnetic field depends on factors like the current flowing through the wire. Examples of applications that use electromagnets like cranes, speakers, and tape recorders are also provided.

Uploaded by

Nur Maryam Hibatullah
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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IGCSE PHYSICS

Unit 16:
Magnetism
 When it’s free to rotate or freely suspended, it
turns to point north-south.
16.1 PERMANENT MAGNETS - One end points north, which is the magnet’s
A compass needle possesses the same attribute as a bar magnet. north pole, pointing roughly in the direction of
the Earth’s geographical north pole.
- The other end is the magnet’s south pole.
 When two magnets are brought together, the
like poles repel and the unlike poles attract.

And then, how about a compass needle?


It is usually attracted to the Earth’s North pole!
Reason: The Earth has a magnetic south pole close to its
geographical North Pole. The coordinates of this
Geomagnetic South Pole is estimated to be located
79.74˚S and 108.22˚E.
16.1.1 MAGNETIC MATERIALS
 Most magnetic materials contain iron, the commonest magnetic element. These materials
are also known as ferrous materials.
 Other magnetic elements to be recognized are cobalt and nickel.
 But, this does not necessarily mean that everything that contains iron is magnetic. For
example, stainless steel, which contains a lot of iron but, magnets will not stick to it.
 There are two types of magnetic materials; hard and soft. The following table explains the
comparison between them:

bar magnets

 Hard magnetic materials make up permanent magnets. Meanwhile, soft magnetic


materials make up temporary magnets. Let’s ponder the following table and compare the
properties between permanent and temporary magnets.
16.1.2 MAGNETISATION
No. Methods Diagram
1 Stroking the material with a permanent magnet
consistently from one end to the other (NEVER
GOING IN THE REVERSE DIRECTION)

2 Placing the material in a strong magnetic field, as


produced by an electromagnet.
(An electromagnet is a coil of wire, which is
connected to a battery or power supply so that a
steady direct current (d.c.) flows through it

a MAGNETIC FIELD will be produced inside the coil


and this FIELD will magnetise the material
16.1.3 DEMAGNETISATION
No. Methods Diagrams
1 Hammering the magnet, which is already placed in an
east-west direction

2 Placing the magnet in the field of an electromagnet


connected to an alternating current (A.C.) supply

The magnetic field will vary back and forth

The current gradually will be reduced to 0


3 Heating the magnet until it reaches above a
certain temperature (Curie point of a certain material)
16.1.4 INDUCED MAGNETISATION

 A steel pin is made of a magnetic material but it itself is unmagnetized (NOT a magnet).
 When the north pole of a permanent magnet is brought close to the pin, the pin is attracted.
 The pin head becomes the magnetic south pole.
 This is what we term as “induced magnetism”
 The steel pin, hence, has just become an “induced magnet”.
 Try to separate the steel pin from the permanent magnet bar! The steel pin will return to its
unmagnetized state.
 GCSE Physics - Permanent & Induced Magnets #77 - Bing video
16.2 MAGNETIC FIELDS

 When a magnet affects any piece of magnetic material nearby, then, there is a magnetic field
around the magnet.
 The presence of this magnetic field can be proven through the experiment with iron fillings or
small compasses. This is shown in the diagram below.

 Instead of using iron fillings, we can also use a plotting compass to outline the magnetic field.
The needle of the plotting compass turns to indicate the direction of the field.
 If we observe a magnetic field pattern, it will tell us TWO things about the magnetic field:
 Direction – A tiny compass placed at a point in the field, will align itself along the field
line at that point. As a result, we use a convention that the field lines come out of north
poles and go in to south poles.
 Strength – Lines which are close together indicate a strong field there.
16.2.1 ELECTROMAGNETS
 To make a magnet, we can only use magnetic materials.
 An alternative way is by using an electromagnet.

Typically made from a coil of


copper wire

Sometimes, a coil like this is


Electromagnet called a solenoid

The main point is that the electric When a current flows through
current that produces the the wire, there is a magnetic field
magnetic field. around the coil.
Why do we usually use a copper
coil?
Factors Affecting the Strength of the Magnetic Field Around a Coil
Advantages of Using Electromagnets
 Can be switched on and off
Example of Applications: Electromagnetic Cranes
APPLICATION OF ELECTROMAGNETS

MORE…
 Loud Speaker
 Tape recorder
 Magnetic screening or magnetic shielding

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