First Year Science

Magnetism
 In this topic:
• Magnetic poles
• Magnetic force

• What materials are magnetic?

• Magnetic fields
 Magnets
• Various shapes and sizes
 Magnets in everyday life
Microphone Compass Hard disk Credit cards

Maglev train, Japan MRI scan

 Magnetic poles
• Magnets will attract or repel
• Poles: where the magnetic forces are
strongest
– North Pole
– South Pole
Magnetic poles

RULES OF THE POLES

• Like poles REPEL

• Opposite poles
ATTRACT
 Magnetic force
Magnetic force: the
E
force of attraction
or repulsion between two magnets
 Magnetic materials
• Magnets can also attract non-magnets
– E.g. paperclips, screws, staples
• Magnetic materials = objects attracted to
magnets
• The only metals found in magnetic materials:
– Iron
– Cobalt or their alloys
– Nickel
 Magnetic fields
Magnetic field: the E area around a magnet
where magnetic force can be detected

• Magnetic force is not uniform

• Let’s have a look…….
 Magnetic fields
• Magnetic force always moves from:
NORTH SOUTH
To plot the magnetic field of a bar
magnet
• Use plotting
compass to plot
magnetic field
Magnetic field of the Earth
Geographic Near to Magnetic
NORTH SOUTH

Geographic Near to Magnetic

SOUTH NORTH
 The Magnetic Compass
• Needle in compass is a magnet
• Pointed end of compass = magnetic north pole
Earth’s Earth’s
Compass Points magnetic geographic
needle arrow
SOUTH NORTH