Electric and

Magnetic
Forces
Presented by Kesler Science Vers. 08/2020 © Kesler Science, LLC
Reflect on the Essential
Questions before you dive in… Electric and Magnetic Forces
1. If you were quizzed today,
which questions would you know Essential Questions:
the answers to already? Click on 1. What are the forces
and drag a green check mark of nature that create
next to those questions. electromagnetism?
2. What factors
determine the
2. Which questions would you strength of electric
need to learn more about to and magnetic forces
answer confidently? Click on and (use data)?
drag a red question mark next to
those questions.
Drag and drop a check mark to the number of the questions you know already,
and a question mark to the ones you need to learn more about.

1. 2.

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 Electric and Magnetic Forces
The red circles represent
protons, and the yellow circles
represent electrons. What is
the charge of this atom?
nuetral
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Atoms
• Positive and negative
charges begin with the
atom
• Protons - positive charge
• Electrons – negative
charge
• If the number of protons
and electrons is the
same, the atom has no
charge or is neutral
• Atoms tend to gain and
lose electrons easily
 Electric and Magnetic Forces Loses an
electron

Atoms (cont.)
• Gain of electrons = negative charge 7P

• Loss of electrons = positive charge

• A charged atom is an ion

Positive Ion
• Because this atom is now positive, it will be attracted
and bond to an atom with a negative charge Why is this atom a positive ion?
(opposites attract)
it has more protons than
electrons
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Forces of Nature Electric and Magnetic Forces
• Magnetic Forces – the
attractive and repulsive
forces between two poles Magnetic Force Electric Force

• Electric Forces – occur when

ions create attractive and
repulsive forces

• These two forces can work

independently or together

• Electromagnetism – a force
combining both electric and What is electromagnetism?
magnetic forces when you combine electric and magnetic forces

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Magnetic Forces
Electric and Magnetic Forces
• All matter is made of atoms

• Negatively charged
electrons spin around atoms

• When electrons all spin in

the same direction, they
create an invisible force
known as magnetism

• The power of a magnet is

known as the magnetic force
of that magnet The more electrons spinning the
more powerful the magnet.

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 Electric and Magnetic Forces
What
Magnetic Forces (cont.) determines
• Magnets have two poles, north and how powerful a
magnet is?
south (Hint: Look at
• As poles come close to each other they slide 6.)
either attract or repel
how big it is
• Around these poles is an area known
as the magnetic field
• The farther from the poles, the weaker
the field
This magnet is under the paper. The iron
• Also, the stronger the magnet, the filings detect the normally invisible lines of the
larger the field magnetic field of the magnet.

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 Quick Action: INB Think about 2 bar magnets of unequal strength.
Draw what their invisible magnetic field might look like. You can use
the scribble tool. Go to “Insert> Shapes> Freeform Scribble .

Let’s Explore

Think about 2 bar magnets of equal strength.

Position them so they are at maximum strength and then at a very
weak strength.

Tip: You can click on and drag the

magnets to use in your answer. To
rotate the magnets, click on the
image and use the rotate tool .

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 Think About It
Can you find a magnet
with only a north pole? or bust!

Why or why not?

No, because all magnets have a north and south pole

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 Create an Electric Charge
Quick Action: INB
• Blow up a balloon. Then, rub it on your hair.
• Hold it away from your head and describe what happens.
My hair follows the balloon.

• How can you measure these two facts?

• The farther you are from the charge, the weaker the field.
• The greater the charge, the greater the field.

be measuring how far away it is.

• This is static electricity, which does not move through a current.

• Note: This works best on dry weather days. Also, if your hair has a lot of
“product” in it, this activity won’t work well.
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 Electric and Magnetic Forces Electric Forces
• Electric charges create
electric forces

• Like magnets, there are

two types of charges –
positive and negative

• Like magnets, the forces

either attract or repel

When you rub the balloon on your hair, you removed electrons
giving the balloons a negative “charge”. The balloons are now • This is called static
“attracted” to your positively charge hair. electricity, which does not
move through a current
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 Electric and Magnetic Forces Electric Forces
The electric field is positive if it moves outward from the charge and
(cont.)
negative if it moves toward the charge. • Electric Field – the area
around an electric charge
that experiences the force
A B
exerted by the electric
charge

• Impacting the strength of

the electric field:
• The farther from the charge, the
Which diagram reflects a positive electric field and which one reflects a negative weaker the field
electric field? Drag and drop the letters from above. • The greater the charge, the
Positive ANegative B greater the field

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Electric Current Electric and Magnetic Forces
• Rate of flow of charged
particles

• Electric charge is made up of

protons (+) and What is the
unit for
electrons (–) electric
current?
• When electrons flow in a Amperes
circuit, a current is produced

• Measured in Amperes (A)

• 1A = 1,000 mA milliamperes
Ammeter – measures the
current in a circuit
• 1mA = 0.001 A

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 Think About It
Lightning tends to "jump around" when it strikes. This is

Image: Michael Coughlan CC BY-SA 2.0, commons.wikimedia.org

because the electricity is looking for the least resistant path to
the ground. To help prevent lightening from "jumping" to tall
buildings, builders often put up metal lightning rods. Why
would metal rods work?
Metal lightning rods…
USAF image by Tech Sgt. Scott Laforest, Selfridge, MI

Because It would hit that one point and prevent damage

to the building.

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 How do Electrons Flow?

Electric Current (cont.) B

Electron flow

The energy source (battery) gives -

energy to electrons and pushes them
around a circuit from the negative (-)
terminal to the positive (+) terminal of S
the cell.

What direction do the electrons flow

through the circuit?
Electrons flow from the…
B – Battery
negative to the positive
L1 and L2 – Lights
S - Switch
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 Quick Action: INB

Explain the differences

between the sources and
strength of the charge
for static and current In static electricity… In current electricity…
electricity. There is a buildup of It comes from a stable
electrons through source
friction

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 Electric and Magnetic Forces
What is an electromagnet?
An electromagnet is…
A magnet that uses
electricity to function.
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Electromagnetism
• Electric charges in motion
create magnetic fields
• An electric current is a
moving charge
• A current flowing through a
wire is surrounded by a
magnetic field
• This produces an
electromagnet
 Electric and Magnetic Forces Electromagnetism
(cont.)
• Wrap a wire around a
piece of iron or steel to
make the magnet stronger

• Increase the strength of

the electromagnet by:
• Increasing the number of loops
of wire
• Increasing the current or
voltage

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 Electric and Magnetic Forces Electromagnetism
How do you
change the
Uses
strength of an • Unlike a permanent magnet,
electromagnet?
the strength of an
Change the electromagnet is easily
strength of an changed by changing the
electromagnet
amount of electric current
by…
Increasing the
that flows through it
amount of • Uses:
loops or, • Hard drives
increase the • Speakers
current • Motors
Electromagnets can be turned off and on. • Generators
• MRI machines
• Scrap yard magnets – to pick up
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heavy metal
 Think About It
Item A carries a net charge and sphere B is
neutral. They are placed near each other on an
insulated table. Which statement best describes
B the electrostatic force between them? Put the
A number of the correct answer in the box below the
table.
1. Item A will give all of its charge to the insulated
table and both items will be neutral.

? 2. Sphere B will take on some of item A’s charge

until they are equal.

3. Nothing will happen.

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 Quick Action: INB
Click on and drag the correct
answers to answer the
question about the photo.
Strengths of Electromagnets
What two things could this person do
to increase the strength of this
electromagnet?

Decrease the Increase the Increase the

number of current or
number of number of
loops of wire 1. voltage
loops of2.
wire loops of wire

Decrease the
current or
voltage

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 _____________ charged electrons spin around atoms. positively negatively
Last Look When electrons all spin in the ____________ direction, they create
opposite same
an invisible force known as magnetism.

Read the statements about The power of a magnet is known as the magnetic ________ of that
force field
magnet.
magnets.
north,
Choose the correct word to Magnets have two poles, ________ and ________.
south
east, west

complete the statement by As poles come close to each other they either attract or
split repel
dragging the highlighted box over __________.

the answer. Around these poles is an area known as the __________ ______ magnetic electric
(two words). field field

The farther from the poles, the __________ the field. weaker stronger

Also, the stronger the magnet, the _________ the field. smaller larger

Static electricity __________ move through a current. does does not

farther
The _____________ the charge, the weaker the field. closer to
from
The electric field is positive if it moves __________ from the charge inward, outward,
and negative if it moves __________ the charge. outward inward

Electric charges in motion __________ magnetic fields. create destroy

A current flowing through a wire is surrounded by a __________ electrical magnetic

_______ (two words.) This produces an electromagnet. field field
 Give your best answer to...

1. What are the forces of nature that create electromagnetism?

Electromagnetism is caused by…
The movement of electrons

Check for 2. What factors determine the strength of electric and magnetic
Understanding forces (use data)?
The strength of electric and magnetic forces is
determined by…
distance, voltage
 Which essential questions do you still need help to understand?

Type your answer here

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questions?