Physics

(14 - 16)

Electromagnetism
and its Uses
© SSER Ltd.
 Current & Electromagnetism
An electric current is a flow of charge carried by tiny particles
known as electrons.

Movement of charge is
caused by the force from a
voltage supply such as a
battery or mains supply
acting on electrons which
are free to move.
 Current & Electromagnetism
An electric current is a flow of charge carried by tiny particles
known as electrons.

Movement of charge is
caused by the force from a
voltage supply such as a
battery or mains supply
acting on electrons which
are free to move.

Note: The electrons flow in the opposite direction to that of the

current. Current flows from positive (+) to negative (-).
 Electromagnetism
When a current flows through a wire a magnetic field is created
around the wire.
The direction of the magnetic field is related to the direction of
the current.
 Electromagnetism
When a current flows through a wire a magnetic field is created
around the wire.
The direction of the magnetic field is related to the direction of
the current.
 Electromagnetism
The direction of the magnetic field can be
found by employing the right hand grip
rule for magnetic fields.

With the thumb of your right hand pointing in

the direction of the current, your fingers will
curl in the direction of the magnetic field.

current
When the direction of the current is
reversed the direction of the magnetic
field is also reversed. field
direction

The circular magnetic field around a wire is fairly weak.

 Electromagnetism - Solenoid

A solenoid can be made by

wrapping a length of insulated
wire into a coil and connecting
it to a source of electricity.

The strength of the magnetic field

can be significantly increased by
inserting an iron nail into the wire
coil - this is now known as an
electromagnet.
The nail is magnetised by the current flowing around the coil.
 Electromagnetism - Solenoid
The electromagnet is able to pick up magnetic materials such as
iron filings, drawing pins and paper clips.

When the current is switched off, the magnetic materials (such as

paper clips or drawing pins) fall off.
If a soft iron core is used, the magnetic field is lost when the
current is switched off. If a hard iron core is used, then some of
its magnetic field remain, even when the current is switched off.
 Adding More Coils of Wire to the Solenoid
Use the following animation to see how the number of coils of wire
affects the strength of an electromagnet...

The more coils on the solenoid, the stronger the electromagnet.

 Increasing the Strength of the Electromagnet
The strength of the electromagnet can be increased in four ways:

1. increasing the current

2. adding a soft iron core

3. increasing the number

of coils of wire

4. bringing the poles

closer together.
 The Magnetic Field Around a Solenoid
The shape of the magnetic field around a solenoid is the same as
around a bar magnet.

solenoid bar magnet

 The Magnetic Field Around a Solenoid
The position of the North and South poles on an electromagnet,
can be determined by using the right hand grip rule.

Align your right hand

around the solenoid so
that your fingers curl in
the direction of the
current - your thumb
now points to the North
pole of the solenoid.

If the current direction is reversed,

the North and South poles swap ends.
 The Magnetic Field Around a Solenoid
In another method you need to imagine you are looking straight at
one end of a solenoid. The direction of current tells you whether
you are looking at the North or South pole.

Note: The direction of the current points in the same direction as

the ends of the letters N or S.
 Electromagnetism - Scrap Yards
Scrap yards have traditionally used large electromagnets to pick
up large objects composed of magnetic materials.

The electromagnet is made of a huge coil of wire with hundreds

of turns, and a soft iron core. When the current is switched on,
this creates an extremely strong magnetic field, which attracts
the scrap magnetic material.
 Electromagnetism - Electric Bells
Click on the green button to see how the bell works...
 Electromagnetism - RCD
A Residual Circuit Device (RCD), also known as a circuit
breaker or trip switch, monitors both the live and neutral wires.

If the current flowing around the circuit becomes too high, the
magnetic field in the coil pulls the iron core, which ‘trips’ the
switch and breaks the circuit.
The system can be reset manually, but will always switch itself
off if a fault is detected.
 Electromagnetism - Relay
The electromagnetic relay is made up of a coil of wire, wound on
an iron core, making an electromagnet. When a current is passed
through the coil, the core becomes magnetised. The core then
attracts the iron armature, which is pivoted, causing it to close the
contacts. When the current is switched off, the armature loses its
magnetism and the contacts are released.
 Electromagnetism - Relay
An electromagnetic relay can be used as a remote switch, which
switches on a secondary circuit carrying a larger current, e.g.
circuits to operate powerful motors or very bright lights.
 The Motor Effect

In 1821, the Danish physicist, Hans Christian

Ørsted discovered the phenomenon of
electromagnetism.

Hans Christian Ørsted

1777 –1851

Following on from the work of Ørsted, Michael

Faraday built two devices.

Both devices used the magnetic field around a

wire and magnet to produce circular motion -
Michael Faraday
this he called electromagnetic rotation. 1791 –1867
 The Motor Effect
A wire carrying an electric current in a magnetic
field experiences a force, and the wire is seen to move.
No force is produced if the wire is parallel to the magnetic field.
 The Motor Effect
A wire carrying an electric current in a magnetic
field experiences a force, and the wire is seen to move.
No force is produced if the wire is parallel to the magnetic field.

This movement is the result of a force created by overlapping

magnetic fields around the wire and the magnet.
 The Motor Effect - Direction of Motion
If the magnet is turned around so that both the
North and South poles are reversed, or the
direction of the current is reversed, the force
encountered by the wire is in the opposite direction.
Reversing the direction of the magnetic field or the current,
reverses the direction of the movement.

The direction of the

movement can be
predicted using
Fleming’s left hand rule.
 The Motor Effect
When a current passes along a piece of wire, it establishes a
magnetic field around the wire.
If this wire is then placed between the North and South poles of a
magnet, the two fields overlap.
In some places the two fields are in the same direction so they
reinforce each other, resulting in a very strong magnetic field.
In other places, the fields are in
opposite directions and the resultant
magnetic field is much weaker.
The wire experiences a force pushing
it from the stronger part of the
magnetic field to the weaker part.
This is called the motor effect.
 The Motor Effect - The Electric Motor
Today electric motors use electricity to produce movement.
 The Motor Effect
The force of the electric motor can be increased in three ways:
 increasing the strength of the magnetic field

 increasing the number of turns on the coil

 increasing the size of the current.

 The Westminster Motor
In school, an effective electric motor can easily be made from the
Westminster motor kit.
magnadur magnet

aluminium axle
wooden armature
wire brushes
coils of
rubber band insulated wire
split pin
rivet iron yoke

wooden base

Variables, such as increasing the number of coils of insulated wire

and increasing the current, can be investigated.
Uses of Electric Motors
Today, electric motors are used
in many common devices.
The Motor Effect - The Loudspeaker
The moving coil loudspeaker uses the motor effect
to change electrical energy into sound energy.
When a constantly varying current, in both size and direction, is
passed through the coil, the magnet is pushed in and out.

This causes the

flexible speaker
cone or diaphragm
to move in and out
(vibrate), producing
the sound waves
that we hear.
 The Motor Effect - Electric Cars
To reduce the effects of Global Warming
many car manufactures are developing
cars with electric motors. This model is
a ‘hybrid’ containing both an electric motor and a petrol engine.

Motor manufactures hope to produce effective all electric cars

within the next few years.
 Electric cars charge up free in London
Fhasorhadmanyproblems
years, London
with
poor air quality. Electric
cars are seen as an excellent
way to deal with the problem,
as they are pollution free. To reduce levels of air
pollution, the London Borough of Westminster proposed
to install 48 free charging
stations in council
car parks.
What do you think?
 The Motor Effect - Electric Cars
Move your cursor over the students to display
their views on electric cars.
 The Motor Effect - Electric Wheelchairs
Electric wheelchairs can be recharged at home and are quiet and
non-polluting when used out of doors. They are tremendous at
giving mobility to people and offer continued independence...
 End of Show

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