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Magnetism

Magnets have north and south poles and can attract or repel other magnetic materials like iron. A magnet creates a magnetic field around it represented by field lines. The direction of the field lines shows the polarity of the magnet. Materials can be magnetized by placing them in a magnetic field or by stroking them with a magnet. Electromagnets are temporary magnets made by running electric current through a coil. They can be used to produce uniform magnetic fields for experiments.

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82 views12 pages

Magnetism

Magnets have north and south poles and can attract or repel other magnetic materials like iron. A magnet creates a magnetic field around it represented by field lines. The direction of the field lines shows the polarity of the magnet. Materials can be magnetized by placing them in a magnetic field or by stroking them with a magnet. Electromagnets are temporary magnets made by running electric current through a coil. They can be used to produce uniform magnetic fields for experiments.

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tshiamo.dintwe
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MAGNETISM (write today’s date)

History of Magnetism (Don't copy)


Magnesi, a shepherd that lived in Magnesia Greece noticed that the ferrule of his
stick and nails in his sandals got stuck on a rock containing magnetite (lodestone).
Objects made from lodestone pointed in the same direction which were later
labelled North and South poles of the earth. Lodestone is a natural occurring
magnet.
(Begin here) A magnet is a piece of metal that exerts a magnetic force and can
attract other magnetic materials such as iron and steel as a result of a magnetic
field.
Substances that can be attracted to a magnet are called magnetic materials. E.g
iron. Cobalt, Nickel, steel(alloy), Alnico(alloy) etc.
Non magnetic materials are those that are not affected by the presence of a
magnetic field. E.g Copper, Tin, Silver, Aluminium, Gold ,All non metals etc
Fun with Magnets - Materials attracted by a Magnet? | Don't Memorise

A magnetic material can be magnetised because of the presence of magnetic


domains. Each domain behaves like a magnet and is represented using arrows.
In unmagnetised material, the magnetic domains point in random directions.
There is no net magnetisation because the domains cancel each other.
Consider a north pole of a magnet placed at the bottom of un magnetised
material, the magnetic force from the magnet forces the south pole of the domain
nearest the magnet to be attracted to the magnet. All other domains rotate
producing a net magnetisation. Each arrow is arranged directly behind the arrow
in front of it therefore the north poles are cancelled out by the adjacent south
poles. The tiny magnets at both ends are free.therefore the poles of a magnet
have a stronger magnetic force.
Note: in a permanent magnet, the domains always point in one direction.

Magnetism (2 of 13) Why are Magnets Magnetic, An Explanation


What makes a magnet?

Different shapes of Magnets

What are the Types of Magnets? | Don't Memorise

Determining Polarity of a bar magnet


1. Suspending the bar magnet
If a magnet is suspended so that it can rotate freely horizontally it will eventually
settle down with one pole facing north and the other south.This pole is therefore
called the ‘north seeking pole’, usually shortened to just ‘north pole’.
The magnet has been orientated by the Earth’s magnetic field.A compass is an
application of this effect.
2. Using a another magnet
If another magnet with known polarities e.g a compass needle is brought closer to
the magnet, then the like poles will repel and the unlike poles will be attracted to
each other.
Note: A magnetic pole is a region with a strong magnetic force.
Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field is a region around the magnet whereby a magnetic substance
within the field is magnetised (attracted). Within the field, a magnetic force is
experienced.The magnetic force is stronger close to the magnet and weaker away
from the magnet.The magnetic field is represented by magnetic lines of force
drawn around a magnet. For a stronger field, the field lines are close together.
Methods of plotting magnetic field lines.
1. using a plotting compass
The magnetic field line of force is the path taken by the North pole of a plotting
compass.
● Place the magnet on top of a piece of paper
● Draw a dot at one end of the magnet (near its corner)
● Place a plotting compass next to the dot, so that one end of the needle of
the compass points towards the dot
● Use a pencil to draw a new dot at the other side of the compass needle
● Now move the compass so that it points towards the new dot, and repeat
the above process
● Keep repeating until you have a chain of dots going from one end of the
magnet to the other. Then remove the compass, and link the dots using a
smooth curve – the magnetic field line
● The direction of the field line is the same as the direction of the plotting
compass
● You can now repeat the whole process several times to create several other
magnetic field lines.
Plotting Magnetic Field Lines GCSE Physics Required Practical
Note: magnetic field lines run from the N pole to the S pole of the magnet.
Magnetic field direction is the direction in which the force on the North
pole would act.
2. Using Iron Filings
● Place a piece of paper on top of the magnet
● Gently sprinkle iron filings on top of the paper
● Now carefully tap the paper to allow the iron filings to settle on the field
lines

Note: Method 2 does not show the north and south poles of a magnet or
the direction of the magnetic field lines.
Law of Magnetism
Magnetic forces are felt when lines of forces of one magnet are interfered
with lines of force of another magnet. The magnetic force can either be
repulsive or attractive. The law states that like poles repel and unlike
poles attract.
Magnetic Field between 2 magnets

Note: The region between south - south and north - north which is free
from magnetic field is called a neutral point
Producing a uniform magnetic field
A uniform magnetic field exerts a constant force over a region. Such a field will
consist of parallel equally spaced magnetic field lines. This type of field can almost
be found between a north and south magnetic pole.
Permanent and Temporary magnetic materials
Permanent magnets are made of magnetically HARD materials such as steel and
Alnico. These materials are not easily magnetised but retain their magnetisation
once magnetised.
Magnetically SOFT materials, such as iron,are easily magnetised but lose their
magnetisation easily. They are suitable for temporary magnets such as
electromagnets.

MAGNETIC INDUCTION
When a magnetic material is placed in a magnetic field, the material can
temporarily become magnetised:One end of the material will become a north
pole. The other end will become a south pole.

When the material is removed from the magnetic field, it will start to lose its
magnetism (depending on whether it is a permanent or temporary magnetic
material).
Methods of Magnetising a material
1. Stroking with a magnet:

The steel bar would eventually become a permanent magnet by magnetic


induction.
Note that the pole produced at the end of the steel bar is opposite to the stroking
pole used.

2. Hammering
If a steel bar is placed so that it lies in the direction of the magnetic field lines of a
strong magnet and then hammered gently, the domains will begin to line up in the
direction of the field. As they do, the steel bar itself becomes magnetised. The
effect can be increased by slightly heating the steel bar first.
3. Electrical method( using direct current, d.c)

Placing a magnetic material in a coil and then passing a direct current through
the coil will also magnetise it.
Magnetic Effects of Electric Current - Introduction | Don't Memorise
How Special Relativity Makes Magnets Work

Methods of demagnetising a Magnet


Magnets can be demagnetised by using one of the following methods:
1. Hammering
A bar magnet can lose its magnetism by hitting it with a hammer outside a
magnetic field.
2. Heating
Heating a magnet until it begins to glow will disorient molecular magnets and
the bar magnet becomes an ordinary material.
3. Electrical method (using a.c supply)

As the switch is closed alternating current flows in the circuit ie the current
changes direction several times per second. As the current changes direction the
molecular magnets reverse their direction. When the bar magnet is slowly
removed the molecular magnets keep changing their direction. The bar magnet
gradually loses its magnetism until it is completely demagnetised.
Note: Demagnetisation is also possible by decreasing the amount of current flow
in the solenoid. As the current gradually decreases,the bar magnet loses its
magnetism until the current flow stops.

ELECTROMAGNETS
1. Field around a wire.
The right hand thumb rule can be used to determine the field direction.
The thumb is placed in the direction of the electric current.The fingers show the
direction of the circular magnetic field.

To make the magnetic field stronger, we increase the current or make the wire
into a coil. Magnetism (3 of 13) Magnetic Field of a Wire, An Explanation

2. Field around a solenoid


Grip the coil with the RIGHT hand. The fingers are placed in the direction that the
eclectic current flows around the coil. The thumb points towards the north pole
end of the coil.
The strength of the field increases with:
1. Increasing the electric current
2.increasing the number of turns in the coil

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