MAGNETISM

Magnetism
• An object that is magnetic is called a
magnet.
• Most magnets are made of iron/ steel.
Some are made of cobalt or nickel.
• Magnets can pick up objects that are
made of magnetic metals, such as paper
clips.
• Every magnet is surrounded by a
magnetic field where magnetism is found
 Magnetism
• A magnetic field is a region around a magnet
where magnetic forces act on other magnets
and on objects made of magnetic materials.
a. The magnetic lines of force never meet or
cross.
b. Like poles repel, the magnetic fields of magnet
also repel each other.
c. The central point of the two poles is an empty
space with no magnetic field. This point is
known as the neutral point
Magnetic Lines of Force
The magnetic field of a horseshoe magnet is revealed by a sprinkling of iron
filings. The distribution of the filings gives a visual impression of the intensity
and direction of the field at every point. They spontaneously line up along “field
lines”, which show the direction of the field at each point. Where the lines crowd
together, the field is stronger. Horseshoe magnets like this are so-called
permanent magnets, made of alloys that resist losing their magnetism when
subjected to moderate shocks and heating, or to the fields of other magnets.
 The Use Of a Magnet in a Compass

• When a magnetic bar is hung freely, the

north pole always points to the North and
the south pole always points to the South.
• This characteristics is used in compass.
• A compass is a tool to find direction.
(hikers, soldier/ sailors)
• A compass has a magnetic alloy needle
which is fixed at the centre
Magnetic Compass
A freely turning magnetized needle points towards magnetic north on a
compass dial. The direction of magnetic north is different from geographic or
true north. Magnetic north is determined by the orientation of the earth’s
magnetic field. True north is the direction of the North Pole which is one end of
the axis of the earth’s daily rotation. To find true north a correction, called the
magnetic declination, must be made to all compass readings.
Earth's Magnetic Field
A powerful magnetic field surrounds the earth, as if the planet had an enormous bar magnet
embedded in its interior. However, geophysicists believe that convection currents of charged,
molten metal circulating in the earth’s core are the source of the magnetic field. A compass
needle is a true bar magnet; one end of it is called “north-seeking” because it is attracted to
the magnetic pole that lies within the earth in the northern hemisphere. The other end of
the compass needle is a magnetic pole of the opposite kind, and is therefore attracted to the
earth’s other magnetic pole. Since opposite types of magnetic pole attract each other, the
pole in the northern hemisphere, although called the north magnetic pole, is itself of the
south-seeking type, and vice versa for the opposite hemisphere.
 Test Yourself !!!!
• What is a magnet?
• What are the examples of magnetic materials?
• What is a magnetic field?
• What is a compass?
• Why does a magnet used in a compass?
ELECTROMAGNETISM
 Electromagnet
• When an electric flows through a
conductor, the conductor acts like a
magnet because a magnetic field is
formed around the conductor.
Magnetic Fields and Currents
Hans Christian Oersted predicted in 1813 that a connection would be found
between electricity and magnetism. In 1819 he placed a compass near a
current-carrying wire and observed that the compass needle was deflected.
This discovery demonstrated that electric currents produce magnetic fields.
As shown here, the magnetic field lines circle around the current-carrying
wire.
Michael Faraday
Michael Faraday made significant
contributions to the study of electricity
and magnetism. He found that a current
flows in a wire that is moved through a
magnetic field. The discovery of this
phenomenon, which is called
electromagnetic induction, contributed to
the development of Maxwell’s equations,
and led to the invention of the electric
generator.
 A straight wire carrying a current has a
circular magnetic field around it.

 The direction of a magnetic field is

determined by the Right Hand Grip Rule.
wire • The magnetic field produced
by a current in a straight
conducting wire has the
magnetic field
following properties:
1. The field lines are in the form
of circles with the wire as its
centre.
2. The magnetic field is the
strongest near the wire and it
weakens with increasing
distance from the wire.
3. The larger the current, the
Magnetic field around a straight wire
stronger the magnetic field.
4. Reversing the current also
reverses the direction of field
lines but the field pattern
remains unchanged
 • If the right hand grips the
thumb wire so that the thumb
current points to the direction of
current flow, the
wrapped fingers will
point to the direction of
the magnetic field.

direction of magnetic field

Right Hand Grip Rule

 A coil of current-carrying wire induces a
magnetic field.

 The coil which creates a type

electromagnet is called a solenoid.
 magnetic field

• When electric current

flows through a coil
of wire wrapped
around a soft iron
core, it creates a
strong magnet called
electromagnet.
• Electromagnet is a
temporary magnet.
current flow
When the current in
the coil is switched
Magnetic field induced by a coil of current-carrying wire on, the soft iron core
becomes a magnet.
  Current induces a magnetic
electromagnets field in the electromagnets of
an electric bell.

 The hammer is pulled up to

strike the gong.
make-and-break
circuit contact  As the hammer moves, it
breaks the circuit.

 It falls back to its original

position.
An electric bell