1 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

2 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

A history of magnetism

3 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Magnetic materials

Which of the materials below are magnetic?

co gold
ba (A u)
lt (

cobalt (Co)
Co

e)

nic
)

(F
e

ni
(F

ke
ck

n
iro
n

co el

l
iro

pp

(Ni
er e (N
(Cu the n i)
poly

)
)
g)
(M
i um u ) ne ( Al )
e s er (C th e i um
n
g d (Au) copp wood ol y min
a
m gol p u
alaulm
inium
magnesium (Mg) wood (Al)
4 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Magnetic or non-magnetic?

5 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Can magnetism be blocked?

A fridge magnet may be coated in plastic but will stick

to a metal fridge.
Can magnetic forces act through any material?
1. Attach a paperclip to a piece of thread
and tape the other end of the thread
to a work bench.
2. Hold a magnet above the paperclip to
check that the paperclip is attracted.
3. Try inserting thin sheets of
different materials between
the magnet and the paperclip.
Note the effects of each material.

6 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

7 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
What is a magnetic field?

The region around a magnet where it has a magnetic

effect is called its magnetic field.

When a magnetic material

is placed in a magnetic field
it will experience a force.

The iron filings feel the

effect of the magnetic field
and line up along the
direction of the forces in
this region.

magnetic field
8 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Shape of a magnetic field

9 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Magnetic field lines

The shape of a magnetic field can be shown by drawing

magnetic field lines. These always point from the north
pole of a magnet to the south pole, along the direction of the
magnetic forces in each region. Where is the magnetic field
strongest?

strongest
field at
poles

The closer together

the magnetic field
lines, the stronger
the magnetic field.
weakest field further away
from poles
10 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Forces between magnets experiment

11 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Investigating magnetic fields

12 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Viewing magnetic fields: N poles together

Bring the north poles of two bar magnets together.

What happens to the magnets?

Next, bring the two north poles as close to each other as

possible and place a piece of paper on top of the magnets.

1. Carefully scatter iron filings onto the paper.

2. Draw the pattern created by the iron filings.

13 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Magnetic field pattern: N poles together

What do you notice about the pattern of the lines of force

in the region between the two north poles?

14 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Viewing magnetic fields: N and S poles together

Bring the north and south poles of two bar magnets together.

What happens to the magnets?

Next, put the north and south poles close to each other,
without letting them touch, and place a piece of paper on top.

1. Carefully scatter iron filings onto the paper.

2. Draw the pattern created by the iron filings.

15 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Magnetic field pattern: N and S poles together

What do you notice about the pattern of the lines of force

in the region between the north and south poles?

How does this pattern compare with the pattern between

the two north poles?

16 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

The Earth’s magnetic field

People have used magnetism to navigate for hundreds of

years. The Earth’s iron core creates a magnetic field.
The north poles of magnets, such as compass needles,
are attracted to the North Pole of the Earth.
But if like poles repel, why is the north
pole of a magnet attracted to the
North Pole of the Earth?
These poles were named before
magnetism was properly understood.
The ‘Magnetic North Pole’ of the
Earth is really a magnetic south pole.
Do you think that you would be able to use a compass
to navigate on other planets, or on the moon?

17 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Magnetic fields: summary

18 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Making a magnet

A magnet can be made by magnetizing a material that is

attracted to a magnet, e.g. a paper clip.
There are three methods that can be used to make a magnet:

1. Stroke a magnet along the paper

clip from one end to the other and
then, starting from the same place,
repeat the movement. The more
times this is done, the more
magnetic the paper clip becomes.

2. Hold a nail in a magnetic field and hit it with a hammer.

3. Put a magnetic material in a strong magnetic field.

19 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

20 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Magnetic effects of current

21 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Making an electromagnet

22 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Investigating electromagnets

The strength of an electromagnet depends on whether it

has a core of iron.

Two experiments can be carried out to investigate the other

factors that can affect the strength of an electromagnet:
 Investigate how the number of coils affects the number
of drawing pins attracted to an electromagnet – keep the
current the same in this experiment.
 Investigate how the size of the current affects the
number of drawing pins attracted to an electromagnet –
keep the number of coils the same in this experiment.
23 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Investigating electromagnets

How could you use the apparatus below to investigate the

effects of changing the current and the number of coils on
the strength of an electromagnet?

24 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Investigating electromagnets – results

Here are some example results.

number of number of
number current
drawing pins drawing pins
of coils (A)
attracted attracted
0 0 0 0

20 8 1 12

40 18 2 23

60 31 3 38

80 46 4 49

25 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Investigating electromagnets – analysis

How did the number of coils affect the number of drawing

pins attracted to the electromagnet?
50
number of drawing pins attracted

40

30

20

10

0
0 20 40 60 80 100

number of coils
26 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Investigating electromagnets – analysis

How did the size of the current affect the number of

drawing pins attracted to the electromagnet?
60
number of drawing pins attracted

50

40

30

20

10

0
0 1 2 3 4 5
current (A)

27 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

28 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Using electromagnets – recycling

A large electromagnet is used on a recycling plant conveyor

belt to pick up and move metal cans.

Which metals would the electromagnet attract?

What advantages does an electromagnet

have over a permanent magnet?

29 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Uses of electromagnets – electric bell

The circuit for a door bell includes an electromagnet.

When the circuit is closed, the

electromagnet pulls the
armature towards it, causing
the hammer to strike the bell.
The movement of the
armature breaks the circuit,
and the hammer returns to its
original position.
This sequence repeats,
causing the bell to sound
continuously.

30 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Label the diagram – electric bell

31 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Using electromagnets – door bells

32 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Using electromagnets – the relay

Lifts, cars and other large electrical machines use

high currents.

Relays use an
electromagnet to allow a
small current in one
circuit to control a large
current in another circuit.

Can you predict what will

happen when the switch
is closed in this circuit?

33 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Electromagnets: summary

34 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

35 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008
Glossary

36 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Anagrams

37 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Multiple-choice quiz

38 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008

Magnets: true or false?

39 of 40 © Boardworks Ltd 2008