Chapter

20

When a magnet is suspended freely, it will align

itself along the north-south direction. In the
twelfth centurey, the Chinese used the
phenomenon to navigate ships on the high seas.

Magnetism
 contents

 Laws of Magnetism

 Magnetic Properties of Matter

 Magnetic Effect of a Current

 Application of the Magnetic Effect of

a Current

 Chapter Review
 laws of magnetism
properties of magnets
When a bar magnet is suspended freely in a paper stirrup,
it always comes to rest in a north-south direction.
 laws of magnetism
magnetic and non-magnetic materials
Non-magnetic
Magnetic materials
materials
Attraction by
yes no
magnet
cannot be magnetised,
can be magnetised, can be
Magnetism cannot be used to make
used to make magnets
magnets
iron, cobalt, nickel, many wood, copper, paper and
alloys based on these glass
metals such as steel (alloy
of iron and carbon) and
Examples alnico (alloy of aluminium,
nickel and cobalt)
all audio and video recording tapes consist of a thin
layer of magnetic material (e.g. iron oxide, chromium
oxide) coated with a non-magnetic plastic film
 laws of magnetism
forces between magnets
When two magnets are brought
together, they exert a force on
each other.

The law of magnetism states that like

poles repel and unlike poles attract.
 laws of magnetism
induced magnetism
Magnetic induction is a process of inducing magnetism in an
unmagnetized magnetic material without any contact.

no attraction

nails are magnetised

induced magnetism
is lost
 laws of magnetism
induced magnetism
When the bar magnet is brought near to the iron rod, the
rod becomes an induced magnet with the end nearer the
magnet having the opposite polarity to that of the magnet.
Induction precedes attraction.

permanent magnet
iron rod

N S N S

(induced magnet)
 laws of magnetism
methods of magnetisation
Stroking to make a permanent magnet:
 stroke the steel bar several times in the same direction
along its length

using one magnet using two magnets

The end of the steel bar where the strokes end always has
the opposite polarity to that of the stroking magnet’s end
in contact.
 laws of magnetism
methods of magnetisation
Using the magnetic effect of an electric current (direct current)
 pass a direct electric current through a solenoid
 strong magnetic field produced magnetises the steel bar
 laws of magnetism
methods of demagnetisation
Hammering:
 place the magnet in the east-west direction
 hammer the magnet vigorously until it demagnetises

Heating:
 heat the magnet until it becomes red-hot
 place the magnet in the east-west direction to cool until it
demagnetises
 laws of magnetism
methods of demagnetisation
Using an electric current (alternating current):
 pass an alternating electric current through a solenoid
 strong magnetic field produced magnetises the steel bar
in opposite ways
 withdraw the magnet slowly in an east-west direction
further and further away until it becomes demagnetised
 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields
A magnetic field is a region around a magnet where magnetic
effects can be detected.

plotting
compass N
S
N
S
N
S

magnet

the pattern of a magnetic field

can be plotted using a compass
 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields
A magnetic field comprises lines or paths (magnetic lines of
force) a free north pole of another magnet would travel.
Properties of magnetic lines of force in all magnetic fields:
 outside the magnet, the lines start from N pole and end at
S pole
 within the magnet, lines continue from S pole to the N pole
 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields
Properties of magnetic lines of force in all magnetic fields:
 lines are closer to each other in a stronger magnetic
field, represented by straight parallel lines of force

magnet

magnetic field is stronger a uniform magnetic field

at A than at B
 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields
Properties of magnetic lines of force in all magnetic fields:
 lines tend to pass through a magnetic substance rather
than through non-magnetic substances like the air

large soft long hollow

iron plate iron cylinder

magnet magnet

magnetic shielding: all lines of force pass through the iron

 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields
When two equally strong magnetic fields acting in opposite
directions meet, their magnetic effects are cancelled out.
The point where there is no magnetic effect is called the
neutral point.

magnet

point X is the neutral point

 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields

N S
N S N N
N S

N S N
N S
S N S

some possible poles with magnetic field patterns

 laws of magnetism
magnetic fields

photographs of magnetic field patterns formed by

iron filings for various arrangements of magnets
 magnetic properties of matter
iron and steel
Both iron and steel are magnetic materials, but they react
differently to magnetic effects.

bar magnet steel bar

soft iron

iron filings

bar magnet is on top bar magnet is removed

 iron is easier to magnetise than steel; stronger magnetism

 iron loses its magnetism more easily than steel
 magnetic properties of matter
temporary and permanent magnets

Temporary magnet Permanent magnet

(e.g. Iron) (e.g. Steel)
Soft magnetic material
Hard magnetic material
• easier to magnetise
• difficult to magnetise
Properties
• loses its magnetism
• retains its magnetism
easily when removed
for a long time
from a magnetic field
• compasses
Magnetic effects required • magnetic door catches
only for specific intervals
of time: • loudspeakers
Uses
• electromagnets • electric meters
• motors
 magnetic properties of matter
permanent magnets

plastic
case

magnetic
poles
iron
plate

door

magnetic door catch flexible magnetic strips

 magnetic properties of matter
permanent magnets

loudspeaker

electric meter
 magnetic properties of matter
electromagnets
Under certain circumstances,
magnetic effects are required
only for specific intervals of
time and not permanently.

electromagnet used to attract

magnetic materials temporarily
 magnetic properties of matter
electromagnets
A solenoid is made by winding many turns of insulated
copper wire around a soft iron core (e.g. an iron nail).
The core becomes a magnet temporarily whenever a
current starts or stops to flow in the solenoid.

nail is magnetised when nail is demagnetised when

the switch is closed the switch is opened
 magnetic properties of matter
electromagnets
The magnetic strength of an electromagnet can be increased
by
 passing a larger current through the solenoid
 increasing the number of turns of the solenoid

nail is magnetised when nail is demagnetised when

the switch is closed the switch is opened
 magnetic effect of a current
magnetic field due to currents in straight wires
The setup investigates the pattern of the magnetic field
produced by a current flowing through different conductors
such as a straight wire, a flat coil or a solenoid.

 magnetic field lines

form concentric circles
around the wire
 circles nearer the wire
are closer to one
another; magnetic
field is stronger in the
region around the wire
 magnetic effect of a current
magnetic field due to currents in straight wires
 increasing the magnitude of the current through the wire
causes more magnetic field lines to form
 reversing the current through the wire cause direction of
magnetic field to reverse
 magnetic effect of a current
conventions

a dot in the middle shows the an ‘X’ shows the current

current coming towards you going away from you
 magnetic effect of a current
Maxwell’s corkscrew rule

The direction of the magnetic field is the same as the

direction in which you would turn an ordinary corkscrew
to move it in the direction of the current.
applications of the magnetic effect
magnetic relay of a current
 a device using an electromagnet in one circuit to switch
on another circuit
 used in telephone exchanges and for starting cars

magnetic relay
 obeys Law of magnetism
Magnetism like poles repel;
unlike poles attract
forms

Properties of magnets

found in not found in

Magnetic material Non-magnetic material

may contain undergoes has

Magnetisation /
Induced magnetism Magnetic field
demagnetization
occurs in may be formed

Permanent magnet / Magnetic field due

electromagnet to current in
found in • straight wires
• solenoid
Applications
• electric bell
• circuit breaker