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MAGNETISM

Strong magnetic properties are exhibited by some metals. These are Iron, Cobalt, Nickel and
Gadolinium. These metals and their alloys are said to be Ferro magnetic or magnetic materials.

MAGNETIC PROPERTIES OF MAGNETS

 A magnet has two poles i.e it is a dipole. These are places where the magnetic force appears to
be concentrated.
 A magnet which is allowed to rotate freely in a horizontal plane always comes to rest with one
pole pointing N-pole and the other S-pole of the earth.
 Either pole attracts any magnetic material which is not magnetized.
 Like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

MAGNETIC FIELD

A magnetic field is a region where the magnetic force can be experienced. A magnetic field is a vector
quantity, thus it has magnitude and direction.

EXAMPLES OF MAGNETIC FIELDS

(a) Opposite Poles

(b) Like Poles

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The force between magnetic poles decreases as their separation increases and the force between
magnetic poles increases as their separation decreases.

(c) Bar magnet

METHODS OF MAGNETISATION

(a) EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD: The earth’s magnetic field can be used to induce magnetism on a hot
steel bar. The bar is placed in a N-S direction and hammered. It is not possible to make a strong magnet
because earth’s field is relatively weak.

(b) STROKING :A permanent magnet may be made by stroking a steel bar with a pole of a permanent
magnet. The steel is stroked repeatedly in one direction with one pole of a magnet.

(i) Single Touch

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(ii) Double Touch

(c) ELECTRICITY The best way to make a permanent magnet is to place a bar of hard magnetic material
inside a solenoid carrying direct current (d.c).

METHODS OF DE MAGNETISING A MAGNET

(a) HAMMERING/ DROPING : A magnet becomes demagnetized by hammering when not aligned to N-S
direction or when continually dropped.

(b)KEEPING : A magnet loses its magnetism if kept improperly.

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(c) ELECTRICITY : To demagnetize a magnet it can be placed inside a solenoid carrying alternating current
( A.C). Since the polarity of the solenoid reverse rapidly the magnet does not settle down with any
polarity.

(d) HEATING : Magnetism can be destroyed by heating a magnet until it is red hot and letting it to cool
while pointing in an E-W direction of the earth.

INDUCED MAGNETISM

If an unmagnetised piece of magnetic material is brought into a magnetic field it becomes a magnet. E.g
If an iron bar is brought close to a pole of a bar magnet poles are induced in the iron as shown.

Poles are always induced in such a way that it causes attraction. i.e a N – Pole induces a S- Pole on a
magnetic material close to it and vice- versa. Induced magnetism explains how a magnetic chain such as
that shown in the following diagram is formed. Each pin induces magnetism in the one below it.
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IRON AND STEEL

Iron is said to be a soft magnetic material. It becomes a strong induced magnet but when removed from
magnetic field, it loses its magnetism. Steel is said to be a hard magnetic material. It does not become as
strong an induced magnet as iron, but retains its magnetism for a longer time once removed away from
magnetic field.

E.g If iron and steel are attached to the Pole of a permanent magnet and dipped in iron fillings, the iron
bar picks up more iron fillings than steel bar. If the permanent Pole is removed most iron fillings fall off
iron than steel

Iron is therefore used to make electromagnets and the core of transformers. Steel can be used to make
permanent magnets.

MAGNETIC FIELD : Two methods are used to detect a magnetic field around a magnet.

(1) USING A PLOTTING COMPASS:

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 Place a bar magnet on a sheet of paper and draw around it.

 Make a dot on the paper near the N- pole of the magnet
 Position the plotting compass so that the curved S- Pole end of the needle surrounds dot 1.
 Make the next dot 2 near the N-Pole end of the plotting compass needle.
 Now move the plotting compass so that its S- Pole is over dot 2.
 Continue plotting in the direction indicated by the N- Pole of the plotting compass needle until
you reach the S- Pole of the magnet.
 Join up the dots to show magnetic field lines.

A complete map of the magnetic field of the magnet can be made by plotting field lines from several
different starting points around N-Pole the magnet.

Note: (a) The magnetic field lines go from N-S and their direction is shown by the needle of the compass.

(b) The magnetic field lines never cross each other.

(2) USING IRON FILLINGS

 Arrange a sheet of cardboard over the top of a magnet. Non – magnetic materials such as
wooden blocks can be used to support the cardboard so that it is slightly raised above the
magnet.
 Sprinkle iron fillings thinly and evenly over the top of the cardboard and tap the cardboard
gently with the tip of of a pencil/pen.

The iron fillings become magnetized by magnetic induction and form small magnetic dipoles.
Tapping the cardboard allows them to turn and line up in the direction of magnetic field. This
requires a strong magnet.
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MAGNETIC SATURATION

Magnetic saturation is when all domains in a magnet are aligned in the direction of the field.

DOMAIN: These are tiny imaginary magnets or magnetic materials.

PERMANENT MAGNETS: They are made using hard magnetic materials. E.g steel.

USES

 Freezer and refrigerator doors are fitted with a magnetic strip to keep the door closed.
 A magnet is fixed to the oil drain plug at the bottom of car engines and gear boxes. Small
splinters of metal are picked by the magnet from the oil and prevent them from damaging
moving parts of the engine.
 A magnet is used to reset metal index in the maximum and minimum thermometer.

ELECTROMAGNETS : They are made using soft magnetic material. E.g iron

The main advantage that electromagnets have over permanent magnets is that they can be switched
on and off and can be varied in strength.

To predict the poles of the magnet, we use the right- hand rule. i.e. The four fingers curl in the direction
of the current and the thumb shows the N- Pole.

INCREASING STRENGTH OF ELECTROMAGNETS

 Using a soft- iron core inside the coil or solenoid

 Increasing the number of turns of the coil
 Increasing the amount of current through the coil
 Using a C-core shaped or horse shoe magnetic material which brings both magnetic poles close
together.
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USES

 Lifting steel plates and slabs which are difficult to attach hooks and chains to.
 Lifting large quantities of loose iron and steel. E.g scrap metal.
 Separating Ferro magnetic metals from others such as copper, brass, aluminum
 Relay switches
 Electric bell
 Reed switches

OTHER USES OF MAGNETIC MATERIALS

(a) AUDIO/VIDEO TAPE

The tape reel of an audio or video cassette or tape contains many tiny magnetic particles on its surface.
When recording is made, an electromagnet (recording head) which carries current of varying frequency
arranges these particles in a particular pattern according to the frequency and direction of its current.
When recording is played back, the arrangement of magnetic particles reproduces the same frequency
in the play head.
(b) INFORMATION STOGAGE

Information is nowadays is stored in code which can be read by computer. i.e a series of 1’s and 0’s
(binary code). A very large number of 1’s and o’s can be recorded by patterns of tiny magnetic particles
on the surface of the disk.
(c) MAGNETIC SCREENING/ SHIELDING

If a region is completely enclosed by iron, magnetic field cannot pass into it. Thus for example, a
laboratory can be enclosed/ covered by iron if a sensitive experiment is carried out.

Region x is shielded from magnetic fields.