4.

1 Simple Phenomena of Magnetism

Chapter 4: Electricity and Magnetism
Discovery of Magnets
 The ancient Chinese discovered the magnetic property possessed by a certain type of natural iron ore called
magnetite or lodestone in 2000 BC.
 When suspend freely, this magnetic ore always points in a north-south direction.
 The Chinese used this property to make a simple form of compass for navigational purposes.

Properties of Magnets

Magnetic Materials
Materials attracted to magnets, like iron, steel, nickel and cobalt – they are also
called ferro-magnetics. They are made up of iron or is an alloy with iron in it.

Non-Magnetic Materials
Materials not attracted to magnets. Non-magnetic materials include wood,
copper, plastic & brass.

Magnetic Poles
Poles are places in a magnet to which magnetic materials, such as iron are
attracted. They are near the ends of a bar magnet and occur in pairs of
equal strength. The magnetic effect is strongest at Poles.
North and South Pole
If a magnet is hung freely, it will come to rest with North-pole pointing
roughly towards Earth’s North Pole and vice versa.

Law of Magnetic Poles

Like Poles repel, unlike poles attract.
The force between magnetic poles decreases as their separation increases.

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Identifying Magnets/Magnetic Materials/Non-Magnetic Materials

Magnetic Material

Non-Magnetic Material

Magnet

 Magnetic repulsion can only occur between two magnets.

 Attraction can occur between magnets as well as magnetic materials.
 So use a known magnet and see if it is repulsed by any of the poles of the unknown object. If it is
the unknown object is a magnet.

Types of Magnetic and Non-magnetic materials

Hard Magnetic Materials Soft Magnetic Materials

Difficult to magnetize Easy to Magnetize
Do not lose their Magnetism easily Lose their magnetism easily
Used to make permanent magnets hence called Used to make temporary magnets (hence called
magnetically hard. magnetically soft) such as electromagnets and
transformers.
STEEL IRON

Induced Magnetism
Magnetic induction is the process by which an object made of a magnetic material becomes a magnet when
it is near or in contact with a magnet.
The south pole of bar magnet induces a north pole on the iron nail and so on.

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Magnetisation and Demagnetisation
Magnetic domain
Inside a material there are atomic magnets. When the material is
unmagnetized, they are randomly arranged.
As the material become magnetised, they arrange themselves and align.
Non-magnetic materials do not have these domains

Ways of Magnetisation
Stroking:
An unmagnetized steel bar is stroked several times from one end to the
other with one of the poles of a permanent magnet. (Only move the
magnet is one direction).

Electrical Method using current:

When a large d.c current flows through coils of wire (a solenoid), a strong
magnetic field is produced. That is an electromagnet. Higher current and/or
number of turns– stronger magnetic strength.

By Hammering:
Strike an iron several times with a hammer while keeping the iron positioned in a
north-south orientation. The impact of the hammer with the iron nail causes the
magnetic domains within the nail to break loose from their current orientation.
The Earth's magnetic field will then reposition the domains into a new orientation
parallel with the Earth's magnetic field.
Ways of Demagnetisation
Heating:
Heat a magnet and cool in an east-west (Identify using a compass) orientation will cause the magnet to
demagnetize.

Hammering:
Hammering a magnet while placed in east-west orientation
will cause it to demagnetize.

Electrical method using Alternating current:

Place a magnet inside a solenoid in the east-west direction.
Connect the solenoid to an a.c. supply.
Withdraw the magnet while the circuit is still on.

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Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field is the region surrounding a magnet, in which a body
of magnetic material experiences a magnetic force.
The pattern of a magnetic field can be plotted using a compass.

Experiment to draw magnetic field lines

Apparatus: Bar magnet, plotting compass, paper, and pen.
Procedure:
 Place a bar magnet on a piece of paper and trace the outline.
 Place the compass at one pole and make a dot next to it showing
the direction where the arrow points.
 Move the compass so that the base of the arrow is at the dot
you’ve just made. Now make a new mark where the tip of the
arrow is.
 Keep doing it until you reach the other end.
 Connect the dots – You’ve made a field line.
 Keep repeating this, starting at different spot than you did first
time.
 You can do the same experiment using iron fillings and see the
pattern of the field lines that way.

Rules of drawing magnetic field lines

 Magnetic field lines are directed outward from N pole towards the S pole.
 Magnetic field lines do not cross or intersect one another.
 To represent strong magnetic field, field lines are drawn closer together. Field lines drawn further apart
represent a weaker magnetic field. They are strongest at poles.

 Like Poles

 Unlike Poles

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Uses of Permanent magnet
 Magnetic Compass – navigational device.
 Apple’s Magsafe chargers – Connector held in place magnetically so if tugged it will pull out without
damaging cord.
 Fridge Magnets
 Permanent magnet generators – generates power without electricity.
 Door Holders
 Magnetic screwdrivers

Earth’s Magnetic Poles:

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?

Uses of Electromagnet

Relay:
An electromagnetic switch operated by a relatively small electric current
that can turn on or off a much larger electric current.

 Circuit 1 is a simple electromagnet which requires only a small current.

When the switch is closed, current flows and the iron rocker arm is
attracted to the electromagnet.
 The arm rotates about the central pivot and pushes the contacts
together. Circuit 2 is now switched on.
 Circuit 2 may have a large current flowing through it, to operate a
powerful motor or very bright lights.
 When the switch is opened the electromagnet releases the rocker arm
and the spring moves the contacts apart. Circuit 2 is now switched off.

Doorbell:

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Speaker:

Inside a speaker, an electromagnet is placed in front of a permanent magnet.

The permanent magnet is fixed firmly into position whereas the electromagnet is mobile.
As pulses of electricity pass through the coil of the electromagnet, the direction of its magnetic field is rapidly
changed.

Maglev:
Maglev (derived from magnetic levitation) is a transport method
that uses magnetic levitation to move vehicles without touching
the ground.
With maglev, a vehicle travels along a guideway using magnets to
create both lift and propulsion, thereby reducing friction and
allowing higher speeds.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging:

If an atomic nucleus is exposed to a static magnetic field, it
resonates (vibrate) when a varying electromagnetic field is applied at the proper frequency.
An Image is computed from the resonance signals of which the frequency and phase (timing) contain space
information.

Finding Poles of Electromagnets:

1) Grip the solenoid using the right-hand.

2) Curl the fingers in the direction of current flow.
3) The extended thumb will point in the direction
of the north pole

Strength of Electromagnet:
Strength of an electromagnets can be increased by:
 Increasing the current in a coil
 Using a soft Iron core inside the coil
 Increasing the number of coils in the solenoid.

What are the advantages of using an electromagnet over a permanent magnet?

 It can be turned on and off.
 Its strength can be increased or decreased.