MAGNETIS

M
MAGNETIC MATERIALS

Materials that attract the magnets and can be magnetised.

Eg: iron, steel, cobalt, nickel etc..
NON-MAGNETIC MATERIALS
Materials that do not attract the magnets.
Eg: brass, copper, zinc, tin, aluminum and as well as non
metals.
MAGNETISED MATERIALS
Materials which act as magnets and having all magnetic
properties.
PROPERTIES OF MAGNETS
Magnets have two poles north and south pole.

A magnet attracts magnetic materials such as

iron, cobalt nickel and steel.
Like poles of the magnets repel each other.

Unlike poles of the magnets attract each

other.
PROPERTIES OF TEMPORARY MAGNETS AND
PERMANENT MAGNETS
Temporary magnets Permanent magnets
(eg. Iron) (eg. Steel)

Soft magnetic material Hard magnetic material

Easy to magnetise and Harder to magnetise and
demagnetise ( lose its demagnetise (can retain its
magnetism easily) magnetism)
Used to make Used to make permanent
electromagnets magnets
Magnetisation of iron and steel
• Chains of paper clips can be hung from a magnet.
• Each paper clip magnetises the one below it by induction and
the unlike poles so formed attract.
• If top paper clip is removed the chain collapses -
• Magnetism induced in
iron is temporary (SOFT)
• steel chain it does not
collapse -
Magnetism induced in
steel is permanent (HARD)
• Strings of papers clips
INDUCED MAGNETISM
A permanent can attract or repel another permanent
magnet. It can also attract other unmagnetised magnetic
materials. For example a permanent magnet can attract
steel pins, paper clips or iron nails.
What is going on here? Paper clips are made up of a
magnetic material. When the south pole of the magnet is
brought closed to a clip the clip is attracted. The attraction
tell us that the end of the paper clip nearest magnetic pole
must be a north pole as shown below. This is known as
induced magnetism. When the permanent magnet is
removed, the pin will return to its unmagnetised state.
METHODS OF MAGNETISATION
1.Magnetising by electrical method
1. A steel bar is placed inside a solenoid through which a
direct current passed for a while.
2. A strong magnetic field is produced and the steel bar is
magnetised.
2.Magnetising by stroking method
A piece of the material may be stroked with a permanent
magnet. By stroking it consistently from one end to another
(never going in the reverse direction) many times, it becomes
magnetised.
METHODS OF DEMAGNATISATION
1.Demagnetising by an Alternating current
1. A magnet to be demagnetized is places inside a solenoid.
2. The solenoid is connected to an a.c. supply.
3. The magnet is withdrawn far away through the solenoid
in the east-west direction while the a.c. current still
flowing.
4. As the process is repeated, the magnet will be
demagnetised.
2.Demagnetising by heating
If we heat a magnet strongly by means of bunsen flame, the magnet will
lose its magnetisation.

3.Demagnetising by hammering
As in the case of heating, hammering in absence of magnetic field also
cause a magnet to lose its magnetism.
If the magnet is hammered vigorously while lying in an east west
direction, its magnetism become weaker and weaker.

4.Demagnetising by dropping
Magnetic field
• Definition:
It is the space surrounding a magnet where it produces a
magnetic force.

This force can be detected by using the apparatus below

Around the magnet there are magnetic field
lines starting from north pole and ends at south
pole.
PLOTTING MAGNETIC FIELD LINES
You will need
• a bar magnet
• a plotting compass
• plain paper, a pencil

What to do
1 Place the magnet in the centre of the sheet of paper and
draw round it.
2 Place the compass near one of the poles of the magnet.
Mark dots 1 and 2 on the paper to indicate the two ends
of the compass needle.
3 Move the compass away from the magnet and position it so
that one end of its needle is marked by dot 2. Mark dot 3 at
the other end. 
4 Continue this process, until you have moved round to the
other pole of the magnet.
 
5 Remove the compass. The sequence of dots shows one of the
field lines of the magnet’s field. Draw a smooth line through
the dots.

6 Repeat the process, starting at a slightly different position,

to obtain another field line.
Iron filings method
• You can use a plotting compass or iron filings to detect a
magnetic field:
• put a piece of paper over a magnet (this stops the iron
filings sticking to the magnet)
• sprinkle iron filings onto the paper.
• gently tap the paper to spread the filings out.
• observe and record the results.
• This method is quick but no use for weak fields.