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Chapter 20
Notes
Magnetism
_____

Laws of magnetism
Magnets attract magnetic materials

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 Magnetic materials are materials that can be attracted to a magnet
 Non-magnetic materials are materials that cannot be attracted to a
magnet

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 Magnets have two poles
 Magnetic effects are strongest at the poles
 A freely suspended magnet comes to rest in the north-south direction
 c
The end of the bar magnet that points to the North Pole of the Earth is
Le
called the north-seeking pole / north pole / N pole
 The end of the bar magnet that points to the South Pole of the Earth is
called the south-seeking pole / south pole / S pole
 This property allows magnetics to be used as compasses
 Like poles repel, unlike poles attract [Law of magnetic poles]
a

 South pole of one magnet will attract north pole of another magnet
 North pole of one magnet will repel north pole of another magnet
eg
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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Properties of magnets
Induced magnetism
 Magnetic induction is the process whereby an object made of a
magnetic material becomes a magnet when it is near or in contact with
a magnet.
 Magnetic induction can occur with or without physical contact.

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 When a paper clip is brought near a permanent magnet, it is attracted
to the magnet → paper clip becomes an induced magnet
 This induced magnet is able to attract other paper clips

c tu
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Theory of Magnetism
 A bar magnet is made up of many ‘tiny magnets’ or magnetic
a

domains.
eg

Magnetic Domains
 Magnets are made of atoms. Physicists believe that the orbiting motion
of electrons around the nucleus of an atom makes the atom an atomic
M

magnet.
 A magnetic domain consists of a group of atomic magnets pointing in
the same direction.

What happens during magnetisation

 In an unmagnetised material, the magnetic domains are randomly
aligned.
 During magnetisation, the magnetic domains become aligned.

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

1. The magnetic domains in an

unmagnetised bar point in random
directions

2. There is no net magnetisation

because the domains cancel
one another out.

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3. Magnetisation: magnetism is
induced by aligning the domains.

tu
4. The magnetic domains point
in the same direction, producing a
net magnetisation. c
Le
5. Each arrow is arranged
directly behind the arrow in front of
it. Therefore, the N poles are
cancelled out by the adjacent S
a

poles.
eg

6. The atomic magnets at the

ends are ‘free’. This produces the
effect of N or S poles at the ends.
M

7. The atomic magnets at the

ends tend to fan out due to
repulsion between the like poles.

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Methods of magnetism and demagnetisation

Method 1: Stroking
1. An unmagnetised steel bar is stroked several times from one end to
the other, in one direction, with one of the poles of a permanent
magnet
2. The stroking magnet should be lifted sufficiently high above the steel

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bar between successive strokes.
3. The pole produced at the end of the steel bar where the strokes finish
is opposite to the stroking pole used.

c tu
Le
a
eg

Single Stroke Double Stroke

M

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Method 2: Electrical method using a direct current

1. When a large current flows through coils of wire (a solenoid), a strong
magnetic field is produced
2. The magnetic field aligns the magnetic domains in the steel bar

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c tu
Le
a
eg
M

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Demagnetising Magnets

Method 1: Heating
 Strongly heating a magnet and letting it cool in an east-west
orientation will cause the magnet to lose it magnetism. The atoms of

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the magnet vibrate vigorously when heated, causing the magnetic
domains to lose their alignment.

tu
Method 2: Hammering
 Hammering a magnet placed in east-west direction alters the
c
alignment of the magnetic domains, causing the magnet to lose its
magnetism.
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Method 3: Electrical method using an alternating current
1. Place a magnet inside a solenoid in the east-west direction
a

2. Connect the solenoid to an alternating current (a.c.) current supply.

- (an alternating current is an electric current that varies its
eg

direction many times per second)

3. Withdraw the magnet with the alternating current still flowing in the
solenoid, until it is some distance away.
M

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Magnetic field pattern

 A magnetic field is the region surrounding a magnet, in which a body
of magnetic material experiences a magnetic force.
 A magnetic field is invisible, but can be visualized as imaginary
magnetic lines of force surrounding the magnet.
 These lines give the direction and strength of the field.
 The arrangement of a group of magnetic lines of force is called a

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magnetic field pattern.
 The magnetic field pattern of a magnet can be revealed by
 Sprinkling iron filings around it

c tu
Le
a

Magnetic field lines between magnets

eg

Two unlike poles (N pole & S pole)

M

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Two like poles (2 N poles)

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 c tu
Point X is a neutral point because fields from both magnets cancel
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each other out at that point.
 A neutral is a point where the resultant magnetic field is zero.
 Therefore, the magnets produce no magnetic effect at X, as indicated
by the absence of magnetic field lines at that point.
a

Parallel bar magnets

eg
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 Magnetic field lines can never intersect.

 By convention, the magnetic field line is the path along which an
imaginary “free” North pole will move if placed along this line. If 2
magnetic field lines intersect, it would mean that 2 “free” North poles
would have attracted, which is against the law of magnetism. Hence,
magnetic field lines cannot intersect

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Magnetic shielding
 Magnetic fields may affect the proper functioning of equipment like
magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) equipment and computer hard
drives.
 To prevent the surrounding magnetic fields from reaching the
sensitive areas of these equipment, we use magnetic shielding
 In magnetic shielding, thick sheets of soft magnetic materials like

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iron are used to divert the magnetic fields that are present.
 They are able to do this because magnetic field lines tend to pass
within them

c tu
1. Magnetic field lines coming out of the N
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pole ‘prefer’ to pass within the soft iron
sheet rather than through air
2. The field lines, after passing through
the soft iron, are ‘forced’ to come out
and enter the S pole of the magnet to
a

form closed loops

3. The region on this side of the soft iron
eg

sheet is free from the magnetic field

M

 Magnetic shielding using a hollow iron

container.

 The region within the iron container

has no magnetic field.

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Plotting of magnetic field lines with a compass

 The lines can be investigated to find their path and direction using a
plotting compass.
1. Place a plotting compass at point A.
2. Note the direction it points at.
3. Mark a 2nd point next to the N-pole of the plotting

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compass.
4. These steps are repeated as shown.
5. The points are all joined using a pencil.

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6. All these steps are repeated for other points next to the
N-pole of the magnet.
.
c
Le
a
eg
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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Temporary magnets and permanent magnets

Soft and Hard Magnetic Materials

Magnetic Material Soft Hard

Properties Difficult to
Easily magnetised
magnetise and
and demagnetised

re
demagnetise
Steel, alnico,
Examples Iron

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neodymium

Used to make Temporary magnets Permanent magnets

Uses of permanent magnets

c
Le
 Magnets are used in many devices
o Permanent magnets are used when a constant magnetic field is
needed
o Temporary magnets are used when a changing magnetic field is
a

needed
eg

o The function of some devices (eg loudspeaker, moving-coil

ammeter) depend on the interaction of the magnetic fields of
permanent and temporary magnets
 Magnetic door catches
M

o Magnetic strips made of permanent magnets are fitted to the

door of a refrigerator.
o This ensures that the refrigerator is airtight when the door is
shut against the steel frame

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Uses of permanent and temporary magnets

 Moving-coil loudspeakers
1. A strong permanent magnet is used in the moving-coil
loudspeaker to provide a constant magnetic field
2. A core made of soft magnetic material placed inside a

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current-carrying coil becomes a temporary magnet. The poles of
the temporary magnet change when the direction of the current
in the coils changes.

tu
3. The loudspeaker diaphragm moves due to the alternating
attraction and repulsion between the temporary and permanent
magnets

 Moving-coil ammeters
c
Le
1. A strong permanent magnet
is used in the moving-coil
ammeter.
2. A core made of soft
a

magnetic material is placed

eg

inside a current-carrying
coil. When current flows
through the coil, the core
becomes a temporary
M

magnet and a turning force

is produced.
3. The pointer attached to the coil moves as the coil turns, and
shows the amount of current flowing through the ammeter.

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Chapter 20: Magnetism

Uses of temporary magnets (electromagnets)

- E lectric-bell

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Magnetic-relay c tu
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a
eg
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C ranes that help separate magnetic material and non-magnetic material

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