Block : 4 Electricity and magnetism

Chapter : 16 Magnetism
1. Properties of magnets
• A freely suspended magnet turns so that it points north-south. That means, the north pole of the
magnet points north and south pole points south.
• Two like magnetic poles repel one another, while two unlike magnetic poles attract each other.

2. Magnetic materials
Most magnets are made up of steel, ferrite, iron, cobalt and nickel. Ferrite is a ceramic material used for
making fridge magnet and the magnet used in cupboard doors to keep it shut. Iron is the commonest
magnetic element. For this reason, they are known as ferrous materials. Element such as neodymium are
used to make some rare-earth magnets.

3. Hard and Soft magnetic material

Magnetic materials may be classified as hard and soft. Differences are summarised in below given table.
Type of magnetic Description Examples Uses
material
Hard Retains magnetism well, but difficult Hard steel Permanent magnets, compass
to magnetise in the first place needles, loudspeaker magnets
Soft Easy to magnet, but readily loses its Soft iron Cores of electromagnets,
magnetism transformers and radio aerials.
4. Magnetisation
The process of magnetising the magnetic materials is called magnetisation. Two methods of magnetisation
are listed below.
• By stroking the material with a permanent magnet consistently in one direction.
• By placing the material in a strong magnetic field, as produced by electromagnet connected to a d.c.
supply.

5. Demagnetisation
The process of demagnetising the magnetic materials is called demagnetisation. Three methods of
demagnetisation are listed below.
• Hammering a magnet placed in east-west direction.
• By placing the material in a strong magnetic field, as produced by electromagnet connected to an
a.c. supply.
• By heating the magnet to a specific range.

6. Induced magnetism
It is the temporary magnetism acquired by a magnetic material when it is placed near a magnet. Unlike a
permanent magnet, an induced magnet only becomes a magnet when it is placed in a magnetic field. The
induced magnetism is quickly lost when the magnet is removed from the magnetic field.

A steel pin shown in the fig. is temporarily magnetised

when a permanent magnet is brought close to it. The end of
the pin nearest the magnetic north pole must be a magnetic
south pole and vise-versa.
7. Magnetic fields
Magnetic field is the region surrounding a magnet, in which the force of the magnet can be detected.
Magnetic field is a quantity that has both direction and magnitude. It is a vector quantity. Magnetic field
can be represented by using magnetic field lines. The pattern of magnetic field line around a bar magnet
describes the direction and strength of magnetic field.

8. Properties of magnetic field lines

• Emerge from North pole and merge towards South pole of the bar magnet , which represent the
direction of magnetic field.
• Line close together indicate a strong field. Field lines are closer at poles means ; this is where the
field is strongest.
• Lines are totally absent at the point between two repelling magnets, represents where there is no
magnetic field.

9. Plotting field lines

• 1st method
➢ Place the magnet under a stiff sheet of plain paper or clear plastic.
➢ Sprinkle iron fillings over the paper or plastic
➢ Tap the paper or plastic to line up iron fillings in the field and obtain the pattern
• 2 method
nd

➢ Place the plotting compass in the magnetic field near to the magnet.
➢ Mark the point where it’s needle turns, where is the direction of magnetic field.
➢ Obtain the pattern.

10. Electromagnets
Electromagnets are the temporary magnets, made up from a coli of copper wire called a solenoid. When
current flows through the solenoid, the electric current produces a magnetic field , which is similar to a
bar magnet. There are three ways to increase the strength of an electromagnet.
➢ Increase the current flowing through the solenoid.
➢ Increase the number of turns of the solenoid.
➢ Add a soft iron core which strongly magnetised by the field, and this makes the whole
magnetic field much stronger.

11. Advantages of electromagnets

• Electromagnets can be easily switched on and off which means it can be easily magnetise as well as
demagnetise. This application is used in electromagnetic cranes.
• Electromagnets are also used in electric doorbells, loudspeakers, electric motors, relay and transformers.

12. Field around a solenoid

• The field of a solenoid is similar to that around a bar magnet.
• One end of the solenoid is the north pole and the other end is south pole.
• Field lines emerge from north and merge at south pole.
• Field lines are closer together at the pole, showing that this is where the magnetic field is strongest.
• Field lines spread out from the poles, showing that the field is weaker in these regions.
• The field can be reversed by reversing the direction of current.
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