Physics Study Guide

PHYSICS STUDY GUIDE/ASSESTMENT WORK
8-01-2023
TOPIC: MAGNETISM
Contents
 Magnets and its Properties.

 Magnetization and Demagnetization.
 Temporary and Permanent Magnets.
 Magnetic Flux.
 Earth Magnetic Field.
MAGNET AND ITS PROPERTIES
A magnet is any material that is capable of attracting other pieces of the same material
as well as pieces of iron.Lodestone is an iron ore which has the property of attracting
pieces of iron’s substance is said to be ferromagnetic if it is attracted by a magnet.
Examples are iron,cobalt,Nickel,and certain alloys. Substances which cannot be
attracted by a magnet are called non magnetic material e.g brass, wood, copper, and
glass.
PROPERTIES OF MAGNETS
1.The ends of a magnet where the attracting power is greatest are called the poles.
2. A bar magnet suspended freely in a vertical plane called magnetic meridian comes
to rest with its axis in the North-South direction. The part which points northwards is
called the north seeking pole or North pole while the opposite pole is called the south
pole
3.Like poles of magnet repel each other while unlike poles attract each other.
4. The polarity of a magnet can be tested by bringing both poles in turn nearer to the
known pole of a suspended magnet. Repulsion indicates similar polarity. Attraction
could be due to two unlike poles or a pole and a piece of unmagnetized
material.Hence, repulsion is the only sure test for polarity.
MAGNETIZATION AND DEMAGNETIZATION
Magnetization is a process whereby a material is made to become magnetic. This can

be achieved through any of the following methods.
1. ELECTRICAL METHOD
A cylindrical coil wound with several turns of insulated copper wire is connected in
series with a six or twelve volt electric battery and switch.A coil of this type is called
a solenoid.A steel bar is placed inside the coil and the current is switched on for
sometime. On removing and testing the steel, it will be found to have been
magnetized. It is unnecessary to leave the current for long as length of time makes no
difference but causes over heating. The induce polarity depends on the direction of
flow of the current. Clockwise flow at an end indicates South Pole while an anti-
clockwise flow indicates North Pole.
2. SINGLE TOUCH METHOD
A steel bar is stroke from end to end several times in the same direction with a known
pole of a magnet. Between successive strokes the pole is lifted high above the bar
otherwise the magnetism already induced will be weakened. The disadvantage of this
method is that it produces magnets in which one pole is nearer the end of the bar than
the other.
3. DIVIDED TOUCH METHOD
Here the steel bar is stroke from the centre outward with unlike poles of two magnets
simultaneously. The polarity produced at the end of the bar where the stroking
finishes is of opposite kind to that of the stroking pole.
4. HAMMERING IN THE EARTH FIELD
Magnets can be made by hammering red hot steel bar and allow it to cool as it lies in
North- South direction.
5. INDUCED MAGNETISM
When a piece of unmagnetized steel is placed either near or in contact with a pole of a
magnet and then removed, it will be magnetized. This is called Induced Magnetism.
The induced pole is of opposite sign to that of inducing pole.
DEMAGNETIZATION
This is a process whereby a magnet is made to lose its magnetism. Demagnetization

can be achieved by:
1. ELECTRICAL METHOD
The magnet is placed in a solenoid through which an alternating current is flowing.

The solenoid is placed with its axis pointing in the East West-direction. After a few
seconds, the magnet is slowly withdrawn out of the solenoid to a long distance away.
This is the most efficient way of demagnetizing a magnet.
2. MECHANICAL METHOD
Another method of demagnetizing magnets is to hammer it hard when it is pointing

in the East West direction.
3. HEATING METHOD
When magnet is strongly heated, it loses its magnetism.
EVALUATION
1. With the aid of a diagram, explain the following methods of magnetization:

electrical, single and divided touch.
2. What is the demerit of using the method of divided touch?.
TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT MAGNET
Soft iron is pure iron while steel is an alloy of iron and carbon. Steel is a much harder
and stronger material than soft iron. Steel and iron have different magnetic properties.
Iron is easily magnetized than steel but it readily loses its magnetism. Steel produces a
stronger magnet, which is the reason why steel is used for making permanent magnet
such as compass needle. In temporary magnets, where the magnetism is required for a
short time, iron is used,e.g electromagnets.
EVALUATION
1. Differentiate between steel and iron with respect to magnetism.

2. What are magnets and how can you differentiate between a magnetic and non
magnetic material?
MAGNETIC FIELDS
Magnetic field is the space surrounding the magnets in which magnetic force is
exerted. It is a vector quantity and it is represented by magnetic lines. The direction of
the magnetic flux at any point is the direction of the force on a north pole placed at
that point.
In the neighbourhood of two magnets placed closed together, there exist a field in
which the direction of the magnetic flux changes rapidly in a confined space. The
magnetic flux can be obtained by using iron fillings.
Magnetic meridian at any place is a vertical plane containing the magnetic axis of a
freely suspended magnet at rest under the action of the earth field.The geographical
meridian at a place is a plane containing the place and the earth axis of rotation.
The angle between the magnetic and geographical meridian is called the Magnetic
Declination.The angle of dip or inclination is the angle between the direction of the
earth magnetic flux and the horizontal.
EVALUATION
With the aid of a suitable diagram, explain the following: Magnetic Flux, Angle of
Inclination and Angle of Declination.
WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT
1. An iron ore which attracts pieces of iron to itself is called —(A) iron (B) steel
(C) lodestone (D) cobalt
2. The following are magnetic substances except —(A) cobalt (B) Nickel (C)
iron (D) brass
3. The end of a solenoid where current flow is clockwise represents—(A) north
pole (B) neutral pole (C) south pole (D) magnetic equator
4. A magnetic substance can be demagnetized by —(A) dropping on the floor.
(B) hammering while red hot. (C) divided touch. (D) single touch.
5. The following are alloys for making powerful magnets except —(A) alcomax
(B) alnico (C) mumeta(D) ticonal
THEORY
1. Explain the term magnetic fields

2. State and explain three properties of a magnet.
NOTE: CONSULT THE TEXT BOOK FOR DIAGRAMS OF THE VARIOUS

METHOD FOR MAGNETIZATION AND MORE DETAILS

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PHYSICS STUDY GUIDE/ASSESTMENT WORK

 Magnets and its Properties.

MAGNET AND ITS PROPERTIES

Magnetization is a process whereby a material is made to become magnetic. This can

2. SINGLE TOUCH METHOD

3. DIVIDED TOUCH METHOD

4. HAMMERING IN THE EARTH FIELD

This is a process whereby a magnet is made to lose its magnetism. Demagnetization

The magnet is placed in a solenoid through which an alternating current is flowing.

Another method of demagnetizing magnets is to hammer it hard when it is pointing

When magnet is strongly heated, it loses its magnetism.

1. With the aid of a diagram, explain the following methods of magnetization:

TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT MAGNET

1. Differentiate between steel and iron with respect to magnetism.

1. Explain the term magnetic fields

NOTE: CONSULT THE TEXT BOOK FOR DIAGRAMS OF THE VARIOUS

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