MAGNETISM

This is phenomenon whereby magnets exert repulsive and attractive force on other materials.

MAGNET

This is material which only attracts certain materials such as iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. These materials
are called magnetic materials or Ferro-magnetics.

The materials which are not attracted by magnet are called non-magnetic materials.

Properties of magnets

Magnet has two poles namely North pole (N-pole) and south pole (S-pole).

N S
Like magnetic polesrepel each other and unlike magnetic poles attract each other.

N S N S

Attraction of like poles

N S S N

RepulsionofS-pole and S-pole

S N N S

Repulsion of N-pole and N-pole

A freely suspended magnet comes to rest with its North pole pointing to the earth’s North direction.

Note: Repulsion is the only true test of a magnet.

1
Magnetic Induction

This is introducing magnetism into a magnetic material by placing it near or in contact with a magnet.
Magnet Induced magnet
S
N S n s

Inducing pole Induced poles

N S
s n N
s s

n s
n n
Attraction of induced unlike poles
Repulsion of induced like poles

Note:

 The end of magnetic material near or in contact with a magnet has an induced pole opposite to the
inducing pole.
 The other end of magnetic material away from magnet has an induced pole similar to the inducing
pole.

Examples

1. The north pole of a bar magnet is placed next to end P of an iron bar PQ as shown. As a result
magnetic poles are induced in the iron bar.

What are the magnetic poles induced at P and Q?

magnetic pole at P magnetic pole at Q

A north north
B north south
C south north
D south south

2
 2. Four different rods are suspended near a permanent magnet.

Which road has to be a magnet?

3. Which of the following mixtures can be separated by a magnet?

A. iron and steel
B. aluminum and sulphur
C. cobalt and nickel
D. cobalt and sulphur

Magnetization

This is the alignment of magnetic dipoles so that they face in one direction.

Un-magnetized iron bar

Magnetized iron bar

Methods of magnetization

There are various methods of magnetization such as:

 Stroking
 Electrical method using direct current

3
 Stroking method

The magnetic material is stroked from one end to the other with a magnet pole several times.

a) Single stroking
Path of magnet

N
Permanent magnet

S
S N
Magnetic material
b) Double touch method
The magnetic material is stroked from centre outwards with two unlike magnetic poles
simultaneously.
Paths of magnets

N
S Permanent magnet
Permanent magnet

S
N
S N
Magnetic material
Note:

 The end where stroking finishes has an induced pole opposite to the stroking pole.
 The end where stroking starts has an induced pole similar to the stroking pole.

Electrical method using direct current

The magnetic material e.g steel or iron rod is placed inside coil of insulated copper wire. The coil is
connected to direct current (dc) power supply and switched on.The current flow through the coil produces
strong magnetic field which magnetizes magnetic material.

(a) (b)

4
Determination of polarity of magnetized material

(a) Looking from end of solenoid

i. If current enters solenoid in clockwise direction, that end will have an induced South
pole.

ii. If current enters solenoid in anti-clockwise direction, that end will have an induced North
pole
N
(b) Right hand grip rule
On the coil curl right hand fingers in the direction of current flow. The thumb points North pole
and other end will be South pole.

Demagnetization

This is disarrangement of theparallel aligned dipoles of a magnetized material.

Methods of demagnetization

 Hitting or dropping or hammering

 Heating
 Electrical method using alternating current

Hitting or dropping or hammering

Hitting magnets or magnetic materials vigorously destroy the parallel alignment of magnetic dipoles
hence demagnetizing magnets or magnetic materials.

Heating

This causes the vibration hence destroy alignment of magnetic dipoles leading todemagnetizing magnets
or magnetic materials.

Electrical method using alternating current

The magnetic material is placed inside a solenoid through which alternating current (ac) is flowing. The
magnetic material is slowly removed from solenoid. He material will be demagnetized.

5
Magnetic saturation

This refers to a fully magnetized magnetic material i.e. all magnetic dipoles (domains) are aligned in the
same direction.

Un-magnetized iron bar Not fully magnetized Fully magnetized iron

iron bar(un-saturated) bar(saturated)
Magnetic field

This refers to region around magnet where magnetic force is experienced.Magnetic field consists of
magnetic field lines or lines of magnetic force.A magnetic field line consists of a line with an arrow. The
arrow shows direction of magnetic force i.e. arrows always point away from North pole and towards
South pole.

The closeness of magnetic field lines represents strength of magnetic force i.e.

 The closer the magnetic field lines the stronger the magnetic force.

 The farther the magnetic field lines the weaker the magnetic force.

Note:The magnetic field lines do NOT cross each other.

Methods of detecting magnetic field of a bar magnet

a) Iron filings method

 Place a bar magnet under a white sheet of paper.
 Sprinkle iron fillings on area around magnet
 Gently tap paper with a pencil.
 Observation: Magnetized iron fillings turns in the direction of magnetic field as shown
below:

6
 b) Plotting compass method
 Place magnet on a sheet of paper and draw its outline.

 Make dot X on paper near magnetic N-pole.

 Place compass such that it’s S-pole is exactly over point X.
 Mark position of N-pole of compass needle with dot Z.
 Plot points in the direction indicated by N-pole of compass needle until reaching magnetic S-
pole.
 Join the dots to show magnetic field lines.

Magnetic field pattern

N S N S N S

Fig.b) around two neighbour unlike magnetic poles

Fig.a) around a bar magnet

N S X S N S N X N S

Neutral point Neutral point

Fig.c) around two neighbour Fig.d) around two neighbour
like magnetic poles like magnetic poles
Neutral point: This is region where magnetic field lines cancel out each other. It also means the region
where the net magnetic force is zero.

Examples

1. Which diagram shows correctly the direction of magnetic field lines around a bar magnet?

7
 2. The diagram shows a magnetic field pattern between the poles of two bar magnets.

Which letter represents the position of the neutral point?

Magnetic properties of iron and steel

Iron Steel
Easily magnetized Hardly magnetized
Easily demagnetized Hardly demagnetized
Used to make temporary magnets (electromagnets) Used to make permanent magnets (bar magnets)
Can be magnetized by weak magnetic field Needs strong magnetic field to be magnetized

Uses of permanent and temporary or electro magnets

Temporary or electro magnets Permanent magnets

Electric bell In loud speakers
Magnetic relay switches In ac generators
Circuit breakers Magnetic door catchers

Examples

1. (a) Fig.1.1 shows two metal bars A and B wrapped in paper. Kabo is asked to identify the bar
that is a permanent magnet. He places plotting compasses near the ends of each bar.

Fig.1.1

Which bar is the permanent magnet?

B
……… ……………………………………………………………………………………[1]

Explain your answer.

North pole of compass attracted by one end and repelled by the other end ………...[1]
……………………………………………………………………………..…….

8
 (b) Kabo attaches iron pins and steel pins to the ends of bar identified as permanent magnet
as shown in Fig.1.2.

Fig.1.2

Explain why more iron pins are attached to the magnet than steel pins?
Iron is easily magnetized and steel is hardly magnetized
………………………………………………………………............ …………………..[1]

Electromagnets

They are also known as temporary magnets.

Structure of an electromagnet

It consists of iron core and coil connected to a direct current (dc) power supply.
dc power supply

iron core

How electromagnet works?

 When switch closes

 Current flow through coil produces magnetic field
 Magnetization of iron core
 Magnetized iron core attracts some magnetic materials

Note: Reversing direction of current flow changes the induced magnetic poles.

Factors affecting the magnetic strength of electromagnets

Magnetic strength of an electromagnet can be increased by:

 Increasing the number of turns in the coil

 Increasing the amount of current flow in the coil

9
Example

1. Fig.1.1 shows an electromagnet next to four cubes, A aluminum, B lead, C nickel and D cobalt.

Fig.1.1

(a) Which two cubes will the electromagnet pick up when the switch is closed?
nickel
1 ……………………………………

cobalt
2 …………………………………… [2]

(b) Suggest two changes that could be made to make electromagnet stronger.
Increases number of turns in the coil
1 ……………………………………………………………………………………….………
Increases amount of current flow in the coil
2 ………………………………………………………………………….…………………… [2]

Uses of electromagnets

Electromagnets are used in:

 Electric bell
 Magnetic relay switch
 Circuit breaker

Electric bell

10
How electric bell works?

When push button is pressed

 Electric current flows through coil

 Magnetization of soft iron core
 Magnetized soft iron core attract soft iron armature
 The hammer hits gong (or bell rings)
 The contact screw opens
 Current is switched off
 Demagnetization of electromagnet
 Soft iron armature is released and contact isclosed again (process starts again)

Magnetic relay switch

This is whereby one circuit is used to operate another circuit (external circuit)

How does it work?

When the switch is closed

 Current flows through coil

 Magnetization of soft iron core
 Magnetized soft iron core attracts iron bar
 Contact point Z opens
 No current flows to the operating circuit.

Circuit breaker

This an automatic switch which cuts current flow in the circuit when maximum current set is reached.

The diagram below shows a circuit breaker.

11
How it switch works

 Increase in current flow through coil causes an increase in electromagnetic strength.

 Strongly magnetized electro magnet attracts soft iron armature

 Contact opens

 No current flow in the circuit

 Press the reset button to switch ON current

Example

1. Fig.1.1 shows an electromagnet used as a relay switch.

Fig.1.1
(a) Explain what would happen when the switch S is closed
Current flows through the coil produces magnetic field.
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Magnetization of the soft iron core
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Magnetized soft iron core attracts iron bar
………………………………………………………………………………………………
Contact point Z opens
…………………………………………………………………………………………[4]
(b) What magnetic property of iron makes it more suitable for this purpose?
Easily magnetized and easily demagnetized
…………………………………………………………………………………………...[1]

12
13