Properties of magnets

Magnetic poles
• Magnetic poles refer to the ends of a magnet where the power
of attraction or repulsion is greatest.
• The force of attraction of a magnet is greatest at its poles. The
force reduces away from poles. This is why when a bar magnet
is dipped in iron fillings, the fillings cling mainly around the
ends of the magnet.

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Properties of magnets
Directional property of a magnet Types of magnets
• If a bar magnet is suspended by a thread and is free to rotate it
rotates and finally rests in the in the North-south direction.
This is called the directional property of a magnet

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 Properties of magnets Properties of magnets
Effect on Magnetic and non- magnetic materials Attraction and repulsion.
• Magnetic materials are those that can be attracted by magnets The Basic Law of Magnetism
e.g. Iron, Nickel, Cobalt, Iron alloy like steel, Nickel alloy etc. • It states that like poles of magnets repel and unlike poles attract.
• Non-magnetic materials are those that cannot be attracted by a
magnet e.g. Copper, Brass, Aluminium, Glass, wood, Graphite
• Ferromagnetic materials are magnetic materials that are
strongly attracted by magnet e.g. soft iron

Repulsion is the only sure test for polarity of magnet. This is because
repulsion can only occur between like poles of magnets.
Attraction is not sure test because it can occur between unlike poles of
magnets or between a magnet and unmagnified magnetic material.

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Properties of magnets Magnetic field

Breaking of a magnet. Magnetic field
When a bar magnet is broken into two or more pieces, the pieces retain • The space around a magnet where the magnetic influence
their magnetism, each having a north pole and a south pole at its ends, (magnetic force of attraction and repulsion) is felt
see figure 1.5. • The field is stronger near the poles of the magnet and is
weaker farther away from the poles
• Magnetic field pattern.

The iron fillings form patterns which seem to originate from one pole and end
the other, see figure 1.6 (a) and (b).
Conclusion
The magnetic field around a given magnet or arrangement of magnets is a
definite pattern.
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Magnetic field lines Properties Of Magnetic Field Lines
• These are lines of force which represent a 1. Magnetic field lines start from the North Pole and end at the South
Pole.
magnetic field. These lines form a magnetic
field patterns.
Direction of magnetic field
• The direction of magnetic field at a point is
the direction to which a free north pole would
move if placed at that point in the field.
2.They repel each other sideways and form closed paths as shown
above.

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Properties of magnetic field lines Properties of magnetic field lines

3.They do not intersect each other. 4.They are closer together where the field is stronger.
• The strength of the
magnetic field is greater
where the lines are closer
together and weaker where
they are further apart.
• Field is strongest in regions
of dense field lines.
• Field is weakest in regions
of sparse field lines.

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 Magnetic field patterns Magnetic field patterns between like poles
Bar Magnet When like poles are placed adjacent to each other magnetic field
from the poles repel each other resulting in a neutral point X as
shown in figure 1.13.

Horse-shoe
Like poles

There is no magnetic field at point X, which is called a neutral

point. A neutral point can thus be defined as that point where the
effect of two magnetic fields totally cancel each other.
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Magnetic field patterns Magnetic field patterns

Soft Iron Ring
• Magnetic field lines get concentrated along the soft iron rod

The soft iron ring concentrates the magnetic field lines thus
preventing them from passing through region P. This is called
magnetic shielding and region P is therefore said to be shielded by
the ring from magnetic fields to add magnetic permiability.
Practical application of magnetic shielding
• The soft iron ring concentrates the magnetic field lines. •The soft iron rings are used in magnetic
shielding where some electrical measuring
instruments and watches are shielded and
protected from magnetic fields.
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 The Domain Theory of Magnetism The Domain Theory of Magnetism
• Magnets consist of small magnetic groups referred to as
When a magnetising field is applied to the material, there is adjustment of domain
magnetic domains. Domains comprise smaller atomic magnets boundaries causing some of the domains to increase in size and others to shrink.
(molecular magnets) called dipoles. The dipoles in a particular In the process, the domain, align themselves with their magnetic axis pointing in
domain point towards a common direction. the same direction. The net external field increases and the material is said to be
magnetised.
When all dipoles align themselves in one direction, the material is said to be
magnetically saturated. No further magnetisation can take place beyond this point.
When the magnetising field is removed, domains of hard magnetic (materials
which are hard to magnetise) maintain their new orientation, while those of soft
magnetic materials (materials which are easy to magnetise) have their domains
reverting to their original arrangement.

In the un-magnetised condition, the dipoles in neighboring domains

arrange themselves in closed loops, see figure 1.19
The domains however align in different direction giving no resultant
field outside the material.
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Magnetization Magnetization
1. Induction
• Magnetization is the process of making a magnet from
• In this method, a magnet induces magnetism in a magnetic material in
magnetic material. During this process, dipoles get aligned. In
contact with it. The end of the material in contact with the magnet attains a
a partially magnetized material most but not all domains are
polarity opposite to the pole of the magnet.
aligned in one direction.
• When a material is fully magnetized all the domains are
aligned in one direction. At this state the material is said to be
magnetically saturated.
• There are four common methods of magnetization; these are:
• Induction
• Stroking The ends of the pins attracted to the magnet acquire a polarity that is opposite
to that pole of the magnet. The lower end of the pin acquires a polarity similar
• Hammering in north-south direction to the pole used, see figure 1.22 (c).
The pins become magnetised and the dipoles in them get aligned along the
• Electrical method using direct current. magnetic axis of the magnetising magnet.
The pins in the experiment get magnetised by induction method.
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 Magnetization
Magnetization 3. Single stroke method
2. Hammering (mechanical method)
• In this method the magnetic material is stroked with one pole of the
• This method makes the use of the earth’s magnetic field. A magnet from one end to another, lifting it away as shown. The stroking is
steel bar to be magnetized is placed in the north-south position repeated several times while keeping the inclination of the magnet the
and the upper end is hammered. The end pointing northward same. Single stroking method Double stroking method
becomes a north pole and the one pointing southward the South
Pole.

The end of the magnetic material bar where the magnet finishes stroking
acquires an opposite polarity to that of the stroking magnet.
Single stroke method
The disadvantage of this method is that it produces magnets in which
θ is referred to as the angle of dip. It varies according to position on the one pole is nearer the end of the magnetised material tan the other.
earth. The process results into the formation of a weak magnet. This can be avoided by use of the double stroke method.
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Magnetization Methods of Demagnetization

• This is the process by which a magnet losses magnetism. In this
4. Electrical method process domains reverse their direction and get misaligned
• The magnetic material to be magnetized is placed inside the solenoid connected in
(disoriented)
series with the battery. The switch is closed and current is passed through the
solenoid for some time. 1. A magnet can undergo self-demagnetization if poorly stored.
2. Hammering : Hammering a magnet placed in the east- west direction
or dropping it evidently on the hard surface floor several times
makes it lose most of the magnetism.
3. Heating
Heating a magnet until red hot and cooling it suddenly when resting
• The polarities of the magnet depend on the direction of the electric current. in the east- west direction makes it lose its magnetism.
• The poles of the magnet can be identified using the right hand grip rule for current The magnetism is lost because hammering or heating disorients
carrying coil which states that: If a coil carrying a current is grasped in the right hand magnetic dipoles.
such that the fingers point in the direction of current in the coil, then the thumb points
in the direction of North Pole. 4. Electrical method :Placing a magnet in a solenoid placed in east west
Allowing the current to flow for a long time does not increase the extend of direction and passing an alternating current demagnetizes it. This is
magnetic saturation. It only causes overheating of the solenoid, which because alternating current reverses many times per second, disorienting the
adversely affects magnetism. magnetic dipoles.
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 Hard and soft magnetic material Storing magnets
a). Soft magnetic material • Bar magnets are stored in pairs with soft iron keepers placed
• These are those magnetic materials magnetized easily but do across their ends to prevent self-demagnetization. Unlike poles
not retain their magnetism for long. Examples: iron, alloy of of the magnets are placed close to each other.
iron and nickel.
Applications of soft magnetic materials
• Making electromagnets
wood
• Making transformer cores
• Used for magnetic shielding
b). Hard magnetic materials
• These are magnetic materials that are difficult to magnetize but
once magnetized they retain their magnetism for a long time.
Example – steel. • The magnets magnetize soft iron keepers through induction.
Application of hard magnetic materials: The aligned dipoles form a closed loop or chain round the magnets
and the keepers, with no free poles.x
• Used in making permanent magnets
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Uses of magnets • Used in industries in lifting iron

Hospitals are employing the use of magnets from the simple extraction
scrap metals.
of metallic objects from patients body (e.g., eye) to Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (MRI). Figure 1.35 shows an example of M.R.I machine
which uses powerful magnet whose fields enable doctors to take
pictures of internal parts of human body. This produces photographs • Navigation for showing direction
with more details than when X-rays are used.
as in compass needles.

• Loudspeakers and microphone.

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1. State two properties of magnets. 7. Figure below shows the effect on the magnetic field when two materials A
2. Distinguish between soft and hard magnetic materials. and B are placed in the magnetic field. State the difference between materials
3. Why is it advisable to store magnetized magnetic tapes in an iron box? A and B.
4. Give a reason why attraction in magnetism is not regarded as a reliable
method of testing for polarity.
5. Four bars of metal A, B, C and D are tested for magnetism. B attracts both
A and C but not D. D does not attract A, B or C. A and C sometime attract 8. The figure below shows how magnets are stored in pairs with keepers at the
one another and sometimes repel one another. What conclusion can you draw end. Explain how this method of storing helps in retaining magnetism longer
about?
(a) Bar A
(b) Bar B
(c) Bar D
6. Two similar razor blades were placed on a wooden block and the other on
an iron block as in the figure. It was observed that the razor blade on the
wooden block is attracted by the magnet while that on the iron block was not. 9. Explain how hammering demagnetizes a magnet.
Explain. 10. Increase in temperature weakens or destroys magnetism of a magnet.
Explain.
11. Explain in terms of domain theory what happens when a bar magnet is
placed in a solenoid in which an alternating current flows.
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12. Name two methods of demagnetizing a magnet 16. An electromagnet is made by winding insulated copper wire on an iron
13. Explain using the domain theory of magnetism how an iron bar can be core. State three changes that could be made to increase the strength of the
magnetized to saturation level by placing it in a magnetic field whose strength electromagnet.
can be varied. 17. State one advantage of an electromagnet as compared to a permanent
14. The figure below shows one method of making a magnet. magnet State TWO factors that affect the strength of an electromagnet.
18. One way of demagnetizing bar is to place it in a solenoid in which an
alternating current (ac) flows. How is the demagnetization achieved?
19. An electromagnet is made by winding insulated copper wire on an iron
core. State three changes that could be made to increase the strength of the
electromagnet.
• Name the polarity formed at: 20. An iron rod XY is placed inside a coil of wire. What type of magnetic pole
(i) A………………………. (ii) B………………………… is induced at the end X and Y when the current flows through the coil?
15. In an attempt to make a magnet, a student used the double stroke method
as shown below. State the polarity at end X and Y.

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21. The diagram below shows a permanent magnet suspended by a spring.
State with reason the behaviour of the magnet when the switch s is closed.

22. Figure below shows an electromagnet in an electric circuit

a) State what happens to the polythene ball when the switch S is closed.
b) Why is soft iron is preferred for material A than steel?
c) State two ways in which the electromagnet could be made stronger.
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