16. Magnetism Flashcards
What materials are magnets attracted to?
- iron
- steel
- nickel
- cobalt
What are the forces between magnets?
Same poles repel
Opposite poles attract
Magnetic field lines important points:
- when the magnetic field lines are close together what does this indicate?
- what does the direction of the magnetic field show?
- what should field lines never do?
- Magnetic field is strongest when field lines are closer together
- The direction of the magnetic field shows which direction a compass would point
- Magnetic field lines point away from north and towards south
- Field lines never cross
What is a uniform field?
- constant magnetic field - constant direction + strength
- arrows point in same direction, field lines are equally spaced apart, magnetic field strength = constant
- can be made in the space between opposite poles of a magnet
Describe the properties of magnetically hard and soft materials
- permanent magnets are made of magnetically hard materials eg steel, which retain their magnetism once magnetised
- temporary magnets eg electromagnets are magnetically soft eg iron, which lose their magnetism once they are no longer exposed to a magnetic field and are easy to magnetise and de-magnetise
What does a magnetic field line do?
Indicate the size and direction of the magnetic force
Describe the method for investigating the magnetic field pattern for a single magnet
- Place a bar magnet on the centre of a piece of paper
- Bring a plotting compass close to end of North Pole of magnet but stop it touching magnet
- Mark where the compass needle is pointing next to compass
- Lift up plotting compass and place the centre of it on the mark made on the paper
- Repeat until the South Pole is reached, join up dots
- Repeat for at least another 5 lines, starting each line near the North Pole but at a different place
Describe the method for finding the magnetic field pattern for two interacting bar magnets (north to south)
- Place a sheet of paper on a horizontal surface and place two bar magnets North Pole to South Pole next to each other
- Leave a gap between them at least four times width of plotting compass
- Bring plotting compass close to end of North Pole and draw a small dot next to where arrowhead is pointing
- Move and repeat
- Repeat for at least another four lines from the North Pole
What happens when some materials are placed in a magnetic field?
Magnetism is induced
Why does magnetism occur?
- movement of electrons around atom
- therefore a wire carrying a current (conductor) produces a magnetic field around it
Describe the construction of solenoids
- soft iron core wrapped in a coil of wire
- when current flows through coil of wire it becomes magnetic
How can a coil be strengthened?
- more turns in coil
- iron core
- increase current
What happens when you reverse the current in a solenoid?
-reversing the current reverses the poles of the electromagnet
Why is iron used for the core in a solenoid, not steel?
- iron is magnetically soft/ gains/loses magnetism easily
Describe how a relay works
- Relay = switch controlled by electromagnet
- Electromagnet with small current passing through it closes switch by pushing an armature into the contacts
- Closing the switch using an electromagnet reduces chance of electric shock