OBJECTIVES Simple phenomena of magnetism Uses of Magnets

Uses of Permanent Magnets

1. Describe the forces between magnetic poles Properties of Magnets Permanent magnets are usually (but not always)
and between magnets and magnetic materials,  The ends of a magnet are called poles. Magnets have
including the use of the terms north pole (N made from steel. They tend to stay magnetized.
two poles: a north and a south. Magnetic forces
pole), south pole (S pole), attraction and Permanent magnets have many uses including
are strongest at the poles
repulsion, magnetised and unmagnetised
Compasses: for thousands of years humans
2 Describe induced magnetism
3 State the differences between the properties have used compasses for navigation, since the
of temporary magnets (made of soft iron) and Magnets are objects which experience attraction and needle always points north.
the properties of permanent magnets (made of repulsion. Like poles repel and Unlike poles
attract. When two magnets are held close together, School lab experiments: the magnets used in
steel)
there will be a force between the magnets: school science demonstrations are permanent
4 State the difference between magnetic and
magnets
nonmagnetic materials.
5 Describe a magnetic field as a region in which a Toys: toy trains and trucks often have magnets
magnetic pole experiences a force. which attach the carriages or trailers to the
6 State that the direction of a magnetic field at a engine or cab
point is the direction of the force on the N pole
of a magnet at that point. Uses of electromagnets
8 Describe the plotting of magnetic field lines
MRI scanners: in hospitals, an MRI scanner is a
with a compass or iron filings and the use of a
compass to determine the direction of the large, cylindrical machine using powerful
magnetic field •Magnetic materials electromagnets to produce diagnostic images
9 Describe the uses of permanent magnets and They experience a force when placed in a magnetic of the organs of the body
electromagnets field. They are attracted to a magnet when
Speakers and earphones: the loudspeakers,
10 Know that the relative strength of a magnetic unmagnetized and can be magnetised to form a
magnet. microphones and earphones used in phones
field is represented by the spacing of the
•Only a magnet can repel another magnet (This can be and laptops use electromagnets to sense or
magnetic field lines
a useful test for a magnet). send soundwaves
KEYWORDS: Magnet, poles, repel, attract, •Non-magnetic materials do not experience a force
field, magnetized, Electromagnet, induced, Recycling: because steel is a magnetic material
when placed in a magnetic field.
it can be easily separated from other metals
and materials using electromagnets. Once •Magnetic materials (which are not magnets) Temporary (induced) magnetism
recovered the steel is re-used and recycled, will always be attracted to the magnet, An induced magnet is a material with a soft iron
reducing mining for iron ore and processing ore regardless of which pole is held close to it. core that becomes a magnet temporarily when it
into steel is placed in a magnetic field
Mag-Lev Trains: the ability of Mag-Lev trains to Induced magnetism always causes a force of
attraction between the permanent magnet
hover above the rails is due to them being creating the magnetic field and the induced
Magnetic materials are attracted to both poles
repelled by large electromagnets on the train magnet
of a permanent magnet
and track. This reduces friction and allows Bringing a material close to a known magnet will When this happens it is said that the material has
speeds of nearly 400 miles per hour. determine if the material is magnetic, non- been magnetized. This means that the end of the
magnetic or if it is a magnet itself material closest to the magnet will have the
Induced magnetism  It is a magnet if it is repelled by the known opposite pole to that of the magnet pole closest to
magnet the material.
Magnetic materials When removed from the magnetic field, the
 It is a magnetic material if it is attracted to the
The magnetic metals are: Iron, Cobalt, Nickel, and known magnet material will lose its induced magnetism quickly
steel. Steel is an alloy which contains iron, so it is  It is a non-magnetic material if it is neither and become unmagnetized.
also magnetic. attracted nor repelled by the known magnet Some objects such as paperclips or needles (made
from steel) can be magnetised and will remain
Types of magnets magnetic for a while.
Other objects, such as electromagnets or
There are two types of magnets:
 Permanent magnets transformers (which are made from soft iron) will
 Induced (also called temporary) magnets be unmagnetised (no longer magnetised) as soon
as the cause of the induced magnetism is
removed.
Permanent magnets
Permanent magnets are made out of permanent
magnetic materials, for example, steel
A permanent magnet will produce its own
Magnetic materials (which are not magnets) will
magnetic field. It will not lose its magnetism
always be attracted to the magnet, regardless of
which pole is held close to it.
Induced magnetism in a Which of the following rows in the table gives the Magnetic Fields
magnetic material correct type of pole at X and the correct material of •All magnets are surrounded by a magnetic
the suspended piece of metal? field
•A magnetic field is defined as: The region
around a magnet where a force acts on
another magnet or on a magnetic material
(such as iron, steel, cobalt and nickel)
•Two bar magnets can be used to produce a
uniform magnetic field
•Point opposite poles (north and south) of
the two magnets a few centimetres apart
•A uniform magnetic field will be produced
ANSWER: A in the gaps between opposite poles
•X must be a north pole. The piece of metal is being oNote: Outside that gap, the field will not be
attracted towards the magnet. The law of magnetism uniform.
states that opposite poles attract.
The material of the suspended piece of metal is nickel.
•When the magnetic material is Nickel is a magnetic material (It will experience a force
removed from the magnetic field it will when it is placed in a magnetic field, in this case it is •A uniform magnetic field is one that has the
lose most/all of its magnetism quickly. attracted towards the magnet). same strength and direction at all points
•B is incorrect because X cannot also be a south pole To show that the magnetic field has the
Worked example (and hence is a north pole). If the pole at X was a same strength at all points there must be
The diagram below shows a magnet south pole then the piece of metal would be repelled equal spacing between all magnetic field
held close to a piece of metal that is from the magnet because the law of magnetism states lines.
suspended by a light cotton thread. The that like poles repel. To show that the magnetic field is acting in
piece of metal is attracted towards the •C and D are incorrect because aluminium is not a the same direction at all points there must
magnet. magnetic material. A non-magnetic material would be be an arrow on each magnetic field line
unaffected by the magnetic field produced by the going from the north pole to the south pole
magnet. •The magnetic field lines are the same
distance apart between the gaps of the poles
to indicate that the field strength is the same
at every point between the poles. Magnetic Field Strength
•This field can be determined by using plotting •The strength of the magnetic field is shown by the
compasses that will point from north to south or spacing of the magnetic field lines.
by using iron filings.  If the magnetic field lines are close together then the
magnetic field will be strong.
Magnetic Field Lines  If the magnetic field lines are far apart then the
•Magnetic field lines are used to represent the magnetic field will be weak.
strength and direction of a magnetic field •Magnetic forces are due to interactions between
•The direction of the magnetic field is shown magnetic fields. Two bar magnets can repel or attract
using arrows •The field lines will look slightly different for each:
•There are some rules which must be followed
when drawing magnetic field lines. Magnetic field
lines: Note: When drawing the magnetic field around a
Always go from north to south (indicated by an
bar magnet indicate both the direction of the
arrow midway along the line) magnetic field and the strength of the magnetic
Must never touch or cross other field lines
field.
• Add arrows pointing away from the north pole
Magnetic Field Around a Bar Magnet and towards the south pole
•The magnetic field is strongest at the poles. This • Ensure the magnetic field lines are further apart
is where the magnetic field lines are closest as the distance from the magnet increases.
together
•The magnetic field becomes weaker as the
distance from the magnet increases. This is
because the magnetic field lines are getting •Therefore, the magnetic field lines around different
further apart. configurations of two bar magnets would look like:
Plotting Magnetic Fields  Keep repeating until you have a chain of dots going
•There are two principal ways of plotting magnetic from one end of the magnet to the other. Then
field lines: remove the compass, and link the dots using a
 using iron filings smooth curve. This is the magnetic field line
 using plotting compasses  The direction of the field lines go from the north pole
Using iron filings to the south pole of the magnet. This is the same as
 Place a piece of paper on top of the magnet the direction of the north arrow on the plotting
 Gently sprinkle iron filings on top of the paper compass, which points towards the south pole
 Now carefully tap the paper to allow the iron filings  Repeat the process to create other magnetic field
to settle on the field lines lines around the bar magnet

Using plotting compasses

 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 on the other side of
the compass needle
 Now move the compass so that it points towards
the new dot, and repeat the above process