25

Chapter
Magnetism

The ancient Greeks and the Chinese discovered long

ago that a type of iron oxide called lodestone had
special properties.

The material was able to attract metallic objects and

also impart its properties to some materials. When the
material was placed on still water, it aligned itself along
the Earth’s geometric poles.
Chapter 25: Magnetism
 Magnets can be strong or weak, depending on their internal
arrangement.
Magnets can be categorised as hard magnets or soft
magnets. • permanent magnets • temporary magnets
• enduring magnetic behaviour • short-term magnetic behaviour
• not easily magnetised • easily magnetised or
or demagnetised demagnetised

A magnet’s influence is strongest its two ends (poles). A

magnet has aLike
north polerepel,
poles and unlike
a south pole.
poles attract

S N N S

S N S N

Chapter 25: Magnetism

Chapter 25: Magnetism
 Classification of
Materials
1 Magnets
➢ have two poles
2 Magnetic ➢ are able to attract
materials or repel another
magnet
3 Non-magnetic
materials ➢ are able to attract
other magnetic
materials
➢ have no effect on a
non-magnetic
material

Chapter 25: Magnetism

 Classification of
1 Magnets Materials
2 Magnetic
materials
3 Non-magnetic ➢ have no poles
materials ➢ are not able to repel a
magnet
Iron
nail ➢ can be attracted by a
magnet
➢ have no effect on non-
magnetic materials
Paper
clips ➢ can be converted to a
Chapter 25: Magnetism
 Classification Of
Materials
1 Magnets
2 Magnetic
materials
3 Non-magnetic ➢ have no poles
materials
➢ are not affected by
magnets or magnetic
material
➢ cannot be converted
into a magnet

Chapter 25: Magnetism

 Magnetic Induction
The method by which a magnetic material gets attracted
to a magnet
When a magnet is brought near an iron nail,
the nail falls within the magnet’s magnetic
field.
The nail’s molecular magnets align
themselves in a regular order and
become a ‘temporary magnet’.
If the north pole of the magnet is facing
the nail, the molecular magnets align
themselves such that the side facing the
magnet becomes a south pole.
The nail gets attracted to the magnet.
Removing the nail from the magnet’s
magnetic field causes the nail’s molecular
magnets to lose their alignment.

This results in the nail losing its magnetism.

Chapter 25: Magnetism
 Temporary Magnets
Temporary magnets are made of materials that can be
magnetised easily.
Temporary magnets lose their magnetism relatively fast.
Examples of materials used to make temporary magnets
include iron and
mu-metal.
Temporary magnets are used in An magnetic
ironincoreshielding
wrapped and
with a to
When an iron sheet is placed between a magnetic
make electromagnets. source and current-carrying
an appliance. wire (or solenoid)
makes an electromagnet.
Field lines get “rerouted”
The to current-carrying
where the iron sheet is. up a
wire sets
magnetic field around the iron core
This prevents the magnetic andfluxthus
from passing through
magnetises the ironthe
core.
appliance.
When the current is switched
off, the
The appliance is shielded fromelectromagnet
the magnetic will
field.lose its
magnetic properties.

Chapter 25: Magnetism

 Permanent Magnets
Permanent magnets are made of materials that cannot be
magnetised easily.
They require a strong magnetic field to be magnetised.
However, once magnetised they retain their magnetism for a
long period and
are not easily demagnetised.
Examples of materials used to make permanent magnets are
steel and
neodymium.
Permanent magnets are used to make strong magnets,
speakers,
microphones, needles of compasses, magnetic holders and
metal detectors.

Chapter 25: Magnetism

Chapter 25: Magnetism
 Magnetic Fields

The magnetic field of a magnet is the region around the

magnet in which a magnetic force is experienced by a
magnetic material.

Field lines are lines with arrows showing the magnetic

force moving away from the north pole and towards the
south pole.
Magnetic field lines indicate the strength of the magnetic
field
around a magnet. The nearer they are, the stronger the
field strength.
The field
Chapter 25: Magnetism lines are closer near the magnet and further
 Magnetic Field around Two
Magnets
When opposite poles face
each other, the field lines are
drawn from the north pole to
the south pole.
Chapter 25: Magnetism
When like poles face each other,
there is a point marked ‘X’ in the
centre of the field.
This point is called the neutral
point. It is where the fields
cancel each other and hence, no
magnetic force can be
experienced.