CHAPTER 7: MAGNETISM

SUMMARY

The property of a magnets to attract objects made of iron, nickel, cobalt is called magnetism.
The invisible force that attracts some metals like iron, nickel, cobalt to a magnet is called magnetic
force.
• Magnetic force is a non-contact force
• Lodestone is a naturally occurring magnet
• Magnetite is a naturally occurring substance that has magnetic properties.
Different shapes of a magnet:
• Bar magnet
• Horseshoe magnet
• Ring magnet

Natural magnets Artificial magnets

Natural magnets are weak magnets.
Artificial magnets/man-made magnets
are strong.
They can be made into different shapes
Not available in the required shape.
and sizes depending on its intended use.

Magnetic materials Non-magnetic materials

Materials that are attracted by magnets. Materials that are not attracted by
magnets.
E.g., wood, paper, gold
E.g., iron, cobalt, nickel and their alloys

Note: Not all metals are attracted by magnets.

Properties of magnets:
1. Magnets attract magnetic materials. This property is known as attractive property.
2. When a magnet is suspended freely it comes to rest in geographical North -South
direction, this property is known as directive property .
• Magnetic Compass: It is a device that uses directive property of a magnet. It is used
for navigation.
3. Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.
• The magnetic force is concentrated at the ends of the magnet.
• Both the poles have the same strength.
4. Like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other.

Poles of the magnet: The two ends of the magnet where the magnetic force is concentrated is called
poles of the magnet.
• In a suspended magnet, the pole that points towards geographical north is called the north pole
and the pole that points towards geographical south is called the south pole.
Magnetic field: The region around the magnet where the magnetic force is felt is called magnetic
field.
• The strength of the magnet field decreases as we move away from it.
Magnetic lines of force are the closed continuous curves around the magnet.
Properties of magnetic lines of force:
• The magnetic lines of force are continuous curves .
• The direction of the magnetic lines of force is from
north pole to south pole, outside the magnet and from
south pole to north pole inside the magnet.
• The magnetic lines of force do not intersect each other.
• The magnetic lines of force are concentrated at the poles.

Magnetic field of the Earth:

• Earth behaves like a huge magnet.
• The magnetic field is caused due to the currents of charged particles present in the Earth’s
core.
• The earth’s geographical poles and magnetic poles are different.
• The difference between the geographical and magnetic axes is around 11 o.
• Earth’s geographical north pole is considered as Earth’s magnetic south pole.
• Earth’s geographical south pole is considered as Earth’s magnetic north pole.

Test for a magnet: Repulsion is the surest test for magnetism.

permanent magnets temporary magnets

It has a permanent magnetic field. It has a temporary magnetic field.
The poles cannot be reversed. The poles can be reversed.
The strength of the magnet cannot be The strength of the magnet can be varied.
varied.

Methods to make temporary magnets are:

1. Induction method
2. Single touch method
3. Double touch method
4. Electrical method

1. Induction method:
When a magnetic material is kept close to a magnet, it behaves like a magnet. The magnetism so
acquired is called induced magnetism.
• When the magnet is removed, the magnetic material loses its magnetic properties. This
method is called induction method.

2. Single touch method:

• A magnetic material (iron bar) is placed on a flat surface.
• The iron bar is stroked along its length using a magnet.
• When the magnet reaches the end, it is lifted and brought back to end A.
• This is repeated 25-30 times.
 3. Double touch method:
• A magnetic material (iron bar) is placed on a flat surface.
• The iron bar is stroked from center to the ends using opposite poles of the two
bar magnets of equal strength.
• When magnet reaches the ends, it is lifted and brought back to the centre.
• This is repeated 25-30 times.

Single touch method Double touch method:

In this method of making temporary In this method of making temporary
magnet, one bar magnet is used. magnet, two bar magnets of equal
strength are used.

4. Electrical method:
An electromagnet is a temporary magnet which behaves like a magnet when an electric current
is passed through the insulated copper wire.

To make an electromagnet:
• Wind insulated copper wire around a magnetic material (iron nail) as close together as
possible.
• The wire is then connected to a battery, when electricity is passed through the wire, the iron
nail behaves as a magnet.

The strength of an electromagnet can be varied:

• By varying the electric current.
• Increasing or decreasing the number of coils.
Soft iron is used for making temporary magnets because it gets magnetized as well as
demagnetized very easily.
If the core is made of copper, aluminium or brass the electromagnet is not strong enough.

Note: Horseshoe magnets are stronger than bar magnets (because both the poles are close to each
other). They are used to pick up metal pieces from out of reach places inside a machine.
Demagnetization:
The process by which a magnet loses its magnetism is called demagnetization.
A magnet can be demagnetized by:
• dropping it from a height repeatedly
• heating it to a high temperature
• passing alternating current
• hitting it with a hammer repeatedly

Self - demagnetization:
• The process by which magnets lose their magnetism on their own if the poles are left free is
called self-demagnetization.
Magnetic keepers:
• Magnetic keepers are soft iron bars used to store magnets.
• Magnets are kept in magnetic keepers to minimize self-demagnetization.
• Horseshoe magnet requires one magnetic keeper, bar magnets require two magnetic keepers.
• Magnetic keepers form a magnetic chain, due to which the magnets do not demagnetize.

Uses of magnet:
• Magnets are used in compass which is a navigational instrument.
• Magnets are used in cranes for lifting and moving heavy objects.
• Used in maglev trains, principle of repulsion between like poles is used to lift the train off
the guideway.
 Magnetism Worksheet

Name: _________________________ Class : 6A / 6B / 6E / 6G

I. Define:

a. Magnetism: ________________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

b. Magnetic force:______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

c. Magnetic field: ______________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

d. Magnetic lines of force: _______________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

e. Self-demagnetization: _________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

II. Answer the following:

1. What is the directive property of a magnet?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

2. What is the attractive property of a magnet?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
3. Draw the magnetic lines of force in a bar magnet.

4. What is the magnetic axis?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

5. Mention 4 properties of magnetic lines of force?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

6. What is the effective length of a magnet?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

7. What is the magnetic equator?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
8. Mention two materials used to make permanent magnets?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

9. Why is soft iron used to make temporary magnets?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

10.What is an electromagnet?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

11.Mention two ways the strength of an electromagnet can be varied.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

12.Identify the following magnets:

_________________________________

_________________________________

_________________________________
13.What are poles of the magnet?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

14.Differentiate between:
a) Natural magnets and artificial magnets

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

b) Magnetic material and non-magnetic material

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

c) Temporary magnets and Permanent magnets

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

d) Single touch method and double touch method

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
 ___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

15. Why are horseshoe magnets stronger than bar magnets?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

16.What is demagnetization?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

17.Mention three ways in which a magnet can be demagnetized.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

18.What is a magnetic keeper?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

19.Why are magnets kept in magnetic keepers?

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________

20.Mention three uses of a magnet.

___________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________
II. Fill in the blanks:

1. The pole of the magnet that points towards geographic south is called the
________________pole.
2. Magnet attracts _________________ materials.
3. Naturally occurring magnet is called __________________________ .
4. Navigational aid used by sailors: _____________________ .
5. Magnetic force is maximum at the _____________.
6. Lodestone is also called _______________ .
7. As we move away from the magnet, the strength of the magnetic field ______________ .
8. Densely populated lines of force indicate ____________ magnetic field.
9. The angle between magnetic axis and the geographical axis is _________ .
10. The needle of a compass always point to the geographical ________________.