Physics Form 5

Chapter 3: Electromagnetism
Magnetic Effect of a Current-Carrying
Conductor (CCC)

Understanding Force on a CCC in a

Magnetic Field

Analyzing Electromagnetic Inductions

Analyzing Transformers

Understanding the Generation and

Transmission of Electricity
 Part 1: Analyzing the Magnetic Effect of a
Current-Carrying Conductor (CCC)

 Ferromagnetic materials – materials that are attracted

by a magnet such as iron, nickel and steel.
 Non-Ferromagnetic materials – materials that are not
attracted by a magnet such as aluminums, copper,
glass and wood
 Electromagnet

 Electromagnet – a device whereby magnetism is

produced by an electric current.
 Can be formed by winding about 20 turns of insulated
copper wire round a soft-iron core such as a soft-iron
nail and passing current through the insulated wire
Simple Experiment (Soft-iron core)

Switch is closed Switch is opened

Simple Experiment (Steel core)

Switch is closed Switch is opened

Current flows Current drops to

zero

Magnetic field is
produced

Steel core is
magnetized

Attract nails
 Magnetic Field
 Magnetic Field – a region in which a magnetic
material experiences a force as the result of the
presence of a magnet or a CCC.
 Magnetic Field
Magnetic field due to a straight wire for different current direction:

Current out of the paper Current into the paper

 Magnetic Field Pattern
 Two methods to determine direction of the magnetic
field:
 Right – hand grip rule
 Maxwell’s screw rule

 Right – hand grip rule:

 Thumb – aligns with the current flow
 Fingers – determines the magnetic field direction
 Maxwell’s screw rule – the
direction of the rotation of the
screw gives the direction of the
magnetic field.
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a straight wire
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a straight wire
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a straight wire
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a circular coil
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a circular coil
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a circular coil
 Magnetic Field Pattern (Solenoid)

 A solenoid is a long coil (shaped like a cylinder)

containing a large number of close turns of
insulated copper wire.
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a solenoid
Magnetic Field Pattern
Due to current in a solenoid
Methods to Determine the Poles of a Solenoid
Right-hand grip rule
Magnitude of current Number of turns is
is increased increased

The strength of the

magnetic field
increases when

Turns of wire are pushed

A soft iron core is
closer together so that the
placed into the solenoid
solenoid becomes shorter
Application of Electric Bell
Electromagnet
 Electric Bell
 When the bell push is pressed, a current flows in
the coils of the electromagnet, causing it to be
magnetized.
 The magnetized electromagnet attracts the soft-
iron armature, causing hammer to strike the gong.
 The movement of the armature breaks the contact
and causes the electromagnet to lose it magnetism.
 The light spring pulls the armature back, remaking
the contact and completing the circuit again.
 The cycle is repeated so long as the bell push is
pressed and continuous ringing occurs.
Application of Electromagnet
Electromagnetic Relay
 Electromagnetic Relay
 A magnetic relay acts as a switch using a small
current to switch on a current in a much more
powerful circuit.
 When the switch in the input circuit is closed, a
small current flows through the electromagnet.
 The iron core becomes magnetized and one end of
the soft iron armature is pulled towards it.
 This action causes the other end of the soft iron
armature to push and close the contacts C.
 The output circuit is closed and a larger current
flows through the motor. Thus, the electric motor is
switched on.
 Telephone Earpiece

 The varying current from the microphone flows through

the coils of an electromagnet in the earpiece.
 This pulls the iron diaphragm towards the electromagnet
by a distance which depends on the current.
 As a result, the diaphragm moves in and out and produces
sound waves that are replicas of those that entered the
microphone.
Application of Electromagnet
Circuit Breaker
 Circuit Breaker
 Acts as an automatic switch that breaks open a circuit
when the current becomes too large.
 In a household circuit, the current may become
excessive when there is a short circuit or an overload.
 The strength of the magnetic field of the electromagnet
increases suddenly.
 The soft iron armature is pulled towards the
electromagnet.
 This results in the spring pulling apart the contacts.
 Circuit is broken and current flow stops immediately.
 After repairs have been made, the reset button is pushed
to switch on the supply again.
 Application of Electromagnet
Magnetic Levitated Train (MAGLEV Train)
 Application of Electromagnet
Magnetic Levitated Train (MAGLEV Train)
Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole. Similar poles of two magnets repel each other; opposite
poles attract each other. These principles govern the levitation of maglev trains. Permanent magnets are
always magnetic. Electromagnets are magnetic only when an electric current flows through them. The north
and south poles of an electromagnet are related to the direction of the current. If the direction of the current is
reversed, the poles are reversed.
In maglevs that levitate by magnetic repulsion, the train lies over the guideway. Magnets on top of the
guideway are oriented to repel similar poles of magnets in the bottom of the maglev. This pushes the train
upward into a hovering position. This system is designed for maglevs that contain groups of extremely
powerful superconducting electromagnets. These magnets use less electricity than conventional
electromagnets, but they must be cooled to very low temperatures—from −269 degrees Celsius to −196
degrees Celsius.
In maglevs that levitate by magnetic attraction, the bottom of the train wraps around the guideway. Levitation
magnets on the underside of the guideway are positioned to attract the opposite poles of magnets on the
wraparound section of the maglev. This raises the train off the track. The magnets in the guideway attract the
wraparound section only strongly enough to raise the train a few centimeters into a “floating” position. The
wraparound section does not touch the guideway. (Imagine a C-shaped bracelet floating around your wrist
without touching it.)
To picture how a maglev train is propelled forward, think of three bar magnets lined up on the floor. The
magnet in front is pulling with an attracting (opposite) magnetic pole and the magnet in back is pushing with
a repulsing (similar) magnetic pole. The magnet in the middle moves forward. A maglev's guideway has a
long line of electromagnets. These pull the train from the front and push it from behind. The electromagnets
are powered by controlled alternating currents, so they can quickly change their pull and push poles, and thus
continually propel the train forward.