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Magnets and magnetic materials

Magnets attract objects made of magnetic materials

Magnetic materials include the elements iron, nickel, cobalt, alloys containing some of these such as steel and some of their compounds.

stainless steel

cobalt

nickel

iron

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Hard and soft magnetic materials

Permanent magnets are made of magnetically HARD materials such as steel. These materials retain their magnetisation once magnetised.

Magnetically SOFT materials, such as iron, lose their magnetisation easily. They suitable for temporary magnets such as electromagnets.

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Magnetic poles

Magnetic poles are the parts of a magnet that exert the greatest force.

Magnetic poles occur in pairs usually called north (N) and south (S)

Iron filing are attracted mostly to the poles of a magnet

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Why poles are called north and south

A magnet suspended so that it can rotate freely horizontally will eventually settle down with one pole facing north and the other south.

This is 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.

north

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The law of magnets

Like poles repel unlike poles attract

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Magnetic fields

A magnetic field is a volume of space where magnetic force is exerted.

All magnets are surrounded by magnetic fields.

The shape of a magnetic field can be shown by iron filings or plotting compasses.

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Magnetic field around a bar magnet

magnetic field line

Arrows on the field lines show the direction of the force on a free to move north pole

The stronger the magnetic field the denser the magnetic field lines.

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Magnetic fields between two bar magnets

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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.

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The Earth’s magnetic field

The earth’s magnetic field is similar in shape to that around a bar magnet.

It is thought to be caused by electric currents flowing through the molten outer core of the Earth.

At the present the field pattern is like that with a magnetic SOUTH pole situated somewhere below northern Greenland

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Induced magnetism

Magnetism can be induced in a magnetic material if it is placed within a magnetic field.

If the material is magnetically hard it will retain its magnetism once removed from the field.

Certain rocks in the Earth’s crust such as lodestone have been magnetised in this way by the Earth’s magnetic field.

N S

iron bar

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Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps below:

Magnetic materials are either hard or ______. Hard magnetic materials such as ______ retain their magnetisation once magnetised.

A magnetic _____ is a region where the magnetic force is greatest. Magnetic poles always occur in ______. Like poles _______, unlike attract.

A magnetic ______ is a region where magnetic force is exerted. The ________ of the magnetic field around a bar magnet is from north to south.

soft

repel

field

steel

direction

pole

pairs

WORD SELECTION:

soft

repel

field

steel

direction

pole

pairs

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Electromagnetism

In 1820 Hans Ørsted noticed that a wire carrying an electric current caused a compass needle to deflect.

No current, compass points to north

Current, compass deflected

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Magnetic field patterns around wires�1. Straight wire

The magnetic field consists of concentric circles centred on the wire.

The magnetic field is strongest near the wire.

This is shown by the field lines being closest together near to the wire.

The strength of the field increases if the electric current is increased.

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The right-hand grip rule (for fields)

Grip the wire with the RIGHT hand.

The thumb is placed in the direction of the electric current.

The fingers show the direction of the circular magnetic field.

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Complete the diagrams below:

Electric current out of the page

Electric current into the page

Add field arrows

Add field arrows

Add current direction

Add current direction

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2. Flat circular coil

Plan view

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3. Solenoid

A solenoid is a coil of wire carrying an electric current.

The magnetic field is similar in shape to that around a bar magnet.

The strength of the field increases with:

  • the electric current
  • the number of turns in the coil

N

S

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The right-hand grip rule (for poles)

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.

N

S

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Complete the diagrams below:

1. Locate north

4. Add coils

3. Add current direction

2. Locate south

N

N

S

N

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Electromagnets

An electromagnet consists of a current carrying coil wrapped around an iron core.

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Uses of electromagnets

1. Scrap yard crane

The iron core of the electromagnet is a SOFT magnetic material.

When current flows the iron becomes strongly magnetised and so picks up the scrap iron and steel.

When the current is turned off the iron loses its magnetisation and so releases the scrap.

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Choose appropriate words to fill in the gaps below:

A wire carrying an electric ______ produces a magnetic field. This field increases in ________ if the current is increased.

A ________ is a coil of wire carrying an electric current. The field produced increases in strength if the number of _____ in the coil is increased or if _____ is placed inside the coil.

An ____________ consists of a coil of a solenoid wrapped around an iron core. Iron is a ______ magnetic material that loses its magnetisation once the current in the coil is switched off.

solenoid

strength

iron

soft

turns

current

electromagnet

WORD SELECTION:

TRIPLE ONLY

solenoid

strength

iron

soft

turns

current

electromagnet

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Online Simulations

Bar magnet field - Fendt

Faraday Electromagnetic Lab - PhET - Play with a bar magnet and coils to learn about Faraday's law. Move a bar magnet near one or two coils to make a light bulb glow. View the magnetic field lines. A meter shows the direction and magnitude of the current. View the magnetic field lines or use a meter to show the direction and magnitude of the current. You can also play with electromagnets, generators and transformers!

Field around a straight conductor - Fendt

Magnetic field around a straight wire / coil / solenoid - NTNU

Relay demonstration - Freezeway.com

Electric Bell demonstration - Freezeway.com

BBC KS3 Bitesize Revision:

Bar Magnets

Magnetic Fields

Electromagnets

Using Electromagnets - includes an applet showing how an electric bell works