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magnetism and electromagnetism Flashcards

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1
Q

what are the poles of a magnet

A

the places where the magnetic forces are strongest

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2
Q

what happens when two magnets are brought close together

A

they exert a force on each other
- two like poles repel each other
- two unlike poles attract each other

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3
Q

what is attraction and repulsion between two magnetic poles an example of

A

non-contact force

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4
Q

what is a permanent magnet

A

a magnet that produces its own magnetic field

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5
Q

what is an induced magnet

A

a material that becomes a magnet when it is placed in a magnetic field

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6
Q

what does induced magnetism always do

A

it always causes a force of attraction

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7
Q

what happens when you remove an induced magnet from a magnetic field

A

it loses most/all of its magnetism quickly

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8
Q

what is a magnetic field

A

the region around a magnet where a force acts on another magnet or on a magnetic material

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9
Q

list magnetic materials

A
  • iron
  • steel
  • cobalt
  • nickel
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10
Q

what is the force between a magnet and a magnetic material

A

it is always one of attraction

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11
Q

what does the strength of a magnetic field depend on

A

the distance from from the magnet - the field is strongest at the poles of the magnet

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12
Q

what is the direction of a magnetic field line

A

from the north(seeking) pole of a magnet to the south(seeking) pole of the magnet

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13
Q

what is the direction of a magnetic field at any point given by

A

the direction of the force that would act on another north pole placed at that point

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14
Q

what does a magnetic compass contain

A

a small bar magnet

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15
Q

what does the earth have and how does a compass show this

A

a magnetic field - the compass needle points in the direction of the earth’s magnetic field

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16
Q

how to plot a magnetic field of a bar magnet

A
  • place a compass near the pile of a magnet and mark direction the compass points in
  • move compass around bar magnet, marking direction of compass
  • connect compass points up and add an arrow pointing from north to south pole
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17
Q

what happens when a current flows through a conducting wire

A

a magnetic field is produced around the wire

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18
Q

what does the strength of the magnetic field around a wire depend on

A
  • the current through the wire; inc current = inc strength
  • the distance from the wire; dec distance = inc strength
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19
Q

what happens if we change direction of current through a wire

A

we reverse the direction of the magnetic field

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20
Q

describe what happens when you place a compass near a wire

A

when the wire carries a current, the needle points in the direction of the magnetic field. when current switched off, needle of compass reverts back to original position

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21
Q

what does shaping a wire do

A

it forms a solenoid which increases the strength of magnetic field created by a current through the wire

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22
Q

describe magnetic field inside a solenoid

A

strong and uniform

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23
Q

what is a solenoid

A

a coil of current-carrying wire

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24
Q

what is the magnetic field around a solenoid similar to

A

the magnetic field has a similar shape to that of a bar magnet

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25
Q

what does adding an iron core to a solenoid do

A

it increases the strength of the magnetic field of a solenoid

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26
Q

what is an electromagnet

A

a solenoid with an iron core

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27
Q

how can you increase the magnetic field of a solenoid

A
  • increase size of current
  • increase number of turns on the coil
  • place an iron core inside the solenoid (to form an electromagnet)
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28
Q

what is special about an electromagnet

A

we can change the strength of the magnetic field by changing the current and we can switch the magnetic field on or off by opening and closing the circuit

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29
Q

what is the motor effect

A

when a conductor carrying a current is placed in a magnetic field, the magnet producing the field and the conductor exert a force on each other

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30
Q

why does the motor effect work

A

the conductor has its own magnetic field which interacts with the magnetic field of the bar magnet, leading to a force being exerted

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31
Q

how to calculate force experienced by a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field

A

F = BIL

force = magnetic flux density x current x length
force in newtons (N)
magnetic flux density in tesla (T)
current in amperes (A)
length in metres (m)

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32
Q

what is magnetic flux density

A

the strength of the magnetic field

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33
Q

what does the bil equation only apply to

A

a wire which is at right-angles to the magnetic field

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34
Q

how to use the right hand rule

A
  • thumbs up with right hand
  • point thumb in direction of current
  • where fingers curl is direction of magnetic field
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35
Q

how do we represent the magnetic field of a straight, current-carrying wire

A
  • use concentric circles
  • arrows on direction magnetic field is travelling in
  • draw at least 3 circles
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36
Q

how to use fleming’s left hand rule

A
  • thumb = force
  • pointer finger = direction of magnetic field (N to S)
  • middle finger = current
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37
Q

what is the direction of the magnetic field always

A

from north to south

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38
Q

what is the direction of convential current always

A

positive to negative

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39
Q

what happens if a conductor is parallel to the magnetic field

A

it will not experience a force; it must be at right angles to the magnetic field in order to experience a force

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40
Q

factors that affect size of force on a conductor

A

F = BIl

  • inc magnetic flux density = inc in size of force
  • inc current = inc in size of force
  • inc length of wire = inc in size of force
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41
Q

what is the basis of an electric motor

A

a coil of wire carrying a current in a magnetic field tends to rotate

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42
Q

what is one useful application of the motor effect

A

in electric motors

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43
Q

how does force on a conductor in a magnetic field cause rotation of coil in an electric motor

A

on each side of coil, current travelling in different directions. for example, left side experiences upward force and right side experiences downward force; opposite directions of force cause loop of wire to rotate due to the moment

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44
Q

what happens when the loop is at 90º in an electric motor

A

the coil stops rotating due to the forces acting on it; even if it manages to go past 90, forces will take it back to 90

45
Q

how can we solve the coil stopping rotating at 90º

A

by switching the direction of the current when the loop passes 90; we can do this by using a split-ring commutator

46
Q

what is a split-ring commutator

A

a device with two rings with conducting brushes on them which switch the terminals (and thus current) every 90º to ensure the coil is always rotating in the right direction

47
Q

what do loudspeakers and headphones use the motor effect for

A

to convert variations in current in electrical circuits to the pressure variations in sound waves

48
Q

components of a moving-coil loudspeaker

A
  • coil connected to AC
  • cone with coil of wire wrapped around one end (forms solenoid)
  • permanent magnet
49
Q

how does a moving-coil loudspeaker work

A
  • current passes through coil generating a changing magnetic field
  • magnetic field from coil interacts with magfield from perm magnet, causing coil to experience result force either towards magnet or away from magnet
50
Q

what happens when the AC current switches direction in a moving-coil loudspeaker

A

the direction of force on cone reverses, causing paper cone to vibrate in and out, creating waves of varying air pressure which makes a sound of a particular frequency; same freq as AC supply

51
Q

what happens if we increase the frequency of the current in a moving-coil loudspeaker

A

we inc pitch of sound waves; therefore inc in size of current = inc in amplitude of vibration

52
Q

what is a wire

A

an electrical conductor

53
Q

what happens if an electrical conductor moves relative to a magnetic field

A

a potential difference is induced across the ends of the conductor

54
Q

what happens if there is a change in the magnetic field around a conductor

A

a potential difference is induced across the ends of the conductor

55
Q

what happens if a wire stops moving through a magnetic field

A

the potential difference induced is now lost

56
Q

what happens if we reverse the direction of motion of a conductor through a magnetic field

A

we reverse the potential difference that we are inducing

57
Q

what is the generator effect

A

if the conductor is part of a complete a circuit, a current is induced in the conductor

58
Q

define induced potential

A

the potential difference that we induce by moving a conductor through a magnetic field

59
Q

difference between motor and generator effect

A

MOTOR; use current and magnetic field to bring about movement (fleming’s left hand rule)

GENERATOR; use magnetic field and force (movement) to induce a current

60
Q

when does the direction of current switch

A

when the direction of movement of a conductor through a magnetic field switches

61
Q

what happens if there is no movement in the conductor through a magnetic field

A

there is no induced current

62
Q

what does an induced current do

A

it generates a magnetic field that opposes the original change; either the movement of conductor or the change in magnetic field

63
Q

what is another method we can use to get an induced potential and current

A

keep conductor still and move magnetic field instead

64
Q

when does the generator effect only apply

A

when the conductor is cutting through the magnetic field lines and passing through the magnetic field

65
Q

what happens if a conductor moves parallel along the magnetic field

A

no induced potential difference and no induced current

66
Q

how to increase induced potential difference/induced current

A
  • use stronger magnetic field
  • move conductor through the magnetic field more quickly
  • increase number of turns on wire to form a coil
67
Q

when does the generator effect also apply

A

when moving a bar magnet in a current-carrying solenoid; direction of current changes when direction of movement changes; we can switch direction of induced current if we switch poles of magnet

68
Q

what happens when we induce a current by the generator effect

A

the conductor that now has current in it produces its own magnetic field, which always opposes movement of the magnet

69
Q

what happens when we move a magnet into the solenoid during the generator effect

A

the current generates magnetic field that repels magnet; when we move magnet out of solenoid, current generates magnetic field that attracts magnet. this means it is harder to move magnet, meaning we are doing work; transfer of energy to movement of current

70
Q

why is the generator effect used in an alternator

A

to generate ac

71
Q

what is an alternator

A

a coil of wire rotating in a magnetic field

72
Q

difference between alternator and electric motor

A
  • in an alternator, we manually move wire to generate current.
  • in elec motor, we use magnetic field produced by already established current to create movement
73
Q

how does alternator generate ac using generator effect

A
  • manually rotate coil to produce alternating current
  • wire rotates and cuts through magnetic field which induces potential difference
  • wires each connected to commutator to allow current to pass out of coil
  • rotation of coil in alternator causes alternating potential difference
74
Q

when is the maximum potential difference in an alternator and why

A

when the coil is horizontal, because at this point, the wire is (for a split second) moving directly through the magnetic field

75
Q

when is the potential difference 0 in an alternator and why

A

when the coil is vertical, because the wire is moving parallel to the magnetic field, so it does not cut through the magnetic field

76
Q

in an alternator why are the two sides of the coil attached to two different rings

A

so that the two sides of the coil move in different directions, which produces an alternating potential difference and an alternating current (AC)

77
Q

how can we increase size of alternating current in an alternator

A
  • increase strength of magnetic field
  • increase number of turns on coil
  • increase area of coil
  • increase speed of rotation of coil (also increases frequency of AC)
78
Q

why is the generator effect used in a dynamo

A

to generate dc

79
Q

difference between dynamo and alternator in terms of rings

A

instead of having two split ring commutators like an alternator, a dynamo has 1

80
Q

how does a dynamo generate dc

A

as we rotate the coil, the split-ring commutator switches direction of current every half turn so that any negative current when the two sides of coil are moving in opposite directions is counteracted by the split ring

this produces direct current and direct potential difference

81
Q

how do microphones use the generator effect

A

to convert the pressure variations in sound waves into variations in current in electrical circuits

82
Q

components of a moving-coil microphone

A
  • diaphragm attached to coil
  • induced current
  • magnet
  • coil of wire wrapped around tube from diaphragm
83
Q

how does a moving-coil microphone work

A
  • soundwaves hit the diaphragm causing it to vibrate
  • causes coil to go in and out of perm magnet
  • movement causes p.d. and current to be induced due to generator effect
  • alternating potential difference induced
84
Q

in a moving-coil microphone when does potential difference switch direction

A

as the coil moves backwards and forwards through the magnetic field

85
Q

what is the frequency of the induced potential difference in a moving-coil microphone the same as

A

the frequency of the sound waves so changing pattern of p.d. can be passed into amplifier and into moving-coil loudspeaker; increases volume

86
Q

what happens if the sound is louder in a moving-coil microphone

A

the higher the amplitude of the waves and the higher the induced potential difference

87
Q

what are transformers used for

A

increasing or decreasing p.d. to reduce energy loss in national grid and make safe transit between power stations and homes

88
Q

what does a basic transformer consist of

A
  • primary coil
  • secondary coil
    both wound on an iron core
89
Q

why is iron used in a transformer

A

because it is easily magnetised

90
Q

what potential difference is applied across the primary coil of a transformer

A

alternating; causes an alternating current to flow through primary coil of wire

91
Q

what happens as current flows through primary coil of a transformer

A

magnetic field forms around coil; since current is alternating, magnetic field will also alternate and switch direction

92
Q

what does the magnetic field around the primary coil of a transformer induce

A

an alternating magnetic field in the iron core (so iron core becomes induced magnet). this can be done bc iron is easily magnetised

93
Q

when an alternating magnetic field is induced in the iron core of a transformer what happens

A

the iron core now produces its own alternating magnetic field which induces p.d. in the secondary coil and causes a current to flow

94
Q

what is the purpose of a transformer

A

to transfer the current from the primary to secondary coil by inducing alternating magnetic currents

95
Q

why can we not simply transfer current from primary to secondary coil electrically in a transformer

A

because the coils are insulated in plastic

96
Q

as well as the iron being easily magnetised, what other purpose does it serve in a transformer

A

it increases the strength of the magnetic field

97
Q

why do transformers only work with alternating current

A

because we need a changing magnetic field to induce p.d. in secondary coil - dc would produce constant magfield

98
Q

what do transformers allow us to change

A

the size of the p.d. between the two coils

99
Q

property of a step-up transformer

A

has more turns in secondary coil than in primary coil so increase potential difference

100
Q

property of a step-down transformer

A

has more turns in primary coil than in secondary coil so decrease potential difference

101
Q

why do transformers not have the same number of turns on the primary and secondary coils

A

this would mean p.d. across primary would = p.d. induced across secondary assuming transformer is 100% efficient which isn’t usually the case

102
Q

what would happen if transformers were 100% efficient

A

electrical power output would equal electrical power input

103
Q

what is potential difference in a transformer equal to and why

A

number of turns on coil; if we had twice number of turns in secondary coil than in primary coil, potential difference would double

104
Q

transformer equation

A

p.d. across primary coil / p.d. across secondary coil
is equal to
number of turns on primary coil / number of turns on secondary coil

105
Q

how is power conserved in transformers

A

power of primary coil = power of secondary coil

106
Q

power transformer equation

A

(p.d. across secondary coil) x (current in secondary coil)
is equal to
(p.d. across primary coil) x (current in primary coil)

107
Q

properties of a transformer

A
  • power conserved
  • p.d. and current vary between primary and secondary coil (if step-up or step-down transformer)
108
Q

advantage of power transmission at high p.d.

A

due to resistance in wires, current heats wire meaning power is lost as heat which reduces efficiency of transformer. lower current = less power and energy loss in the cables which makes transfer of electrical energy through wires more efficient

physics spec (10 decks)

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