Magnetism

Magnets

 magnetism – force of attraction or

repulsion

 not all objects are affected by the force of

magnetism
 ex. wood, glass, paper, plastic

 common metals affected by magnetism are

iron, nickel, and cobalt
Atoms themselves have magnetic properties due
to the spin of the atom’s electrons.

Groups of atoms join so that their magnetic fields

are all going in the same direction

These areas of atoms are called “domains”

When an unmagnetized substance is placed in a magnetic
field, the substance can become magnetized.
This happens when the spinning electrons line up in the
same direction.
Magnets

 poles – two ends of a magnet

 every magnet has two poles

 north (N) pole
 south (S) pole

 even if you break a magnet in half, each half

will have a north pole and a south pole
Properties of Magnets

 like magnetic poles repel each other

 unlike magnetic poles attract each other

Magnetic Fields

 magnetic field – area around a magnet

where magnetic forces can act

 a magnetic field is made up of magnetic

lines of force
Magnetic Fields

 magnetic lines of force – lines that show

the shape of a magnetic field

 the magnetic lines of force are closest

together at the poles of the magnet
 this is where the magnet is strongest
Field Lines Around a Bar Magnet
Field Lines of Repelling Bars
Field Lines of Attracting Bars
 S N S N S N

you get 2 magnets!

The Earth as a Magnet

 the Earth has a North Magnetic Pole and

a South Magnetic Pole

 the North Magnetic Pole is located near the

geographic North Pole

 the South Magnetic Pole is located near the

geographic South Pole
The Earth as a Magnet

 the North Magnetic Pole is like the south

pole of a bar magnet

 the South Magnetic Pole is like the north

pole of a bar magnet
The Earth as a Magnet

 the Earth is surrounded by a magnetic

field which extends far into space

 magnetosphere – region of the Earth’s

magnetic field
The Earth as a Magnet

 the magnetosphere traps charged

particles from the sun

 when these particles enter the

atmosphere, an aurora is formed

 auroras are also called the northern and

southern lights
Electricity and Magnetism

 an electric current passing through a

wire causes a magnetic field
Electricity and Magnetism

 electromagnetism – relationship between

electricity and magnetism
Electricity and Magnetism

 electromagnetic induction – process by

which an electric current is produced by
moving a wire in a magnetic field
Electricity and Magnetism

 a wire carrying an electric current always

has a magnetic field around it
 the magnetic field in a straight wire is not
very strong
 if the wire is wound into a coil, the magnetic
field becomes much stronger as the
individual magnetic fields overlap
 the greater the number of coils, the stronger the
magnetic field
Electromagnets

 electromagnet – temporary magnet

made by wrapping a current-carrying
wire around an iron core

 the center of an electromagnet is called the

core
 it is often made of iron
Electromagnets

 as long as current is flowing, an

electromagnet has a magnetic field

 when current is turned off, there is no

longer a magnetic field
Electromagnets

 there are two ways to make an

electromagnet stronger

 increasing the number of coils

 increasing the amount of current

A Simple Electromagnet:
Electromagnets

 electromagnets are useful because they

can be turned on and off

 electromagnets have many important

uses
 ex. radios, telephones, computers
Electromagnets

 changing the direction of an electric

current causes the poles of an
electromagnet to reverse

 this feature is important in the production of

electric motors
Transformers

 transformer – device in which alternating

current in one coil of wire induces a
current in a second coil
Transformers

 a transformer consists of two coils of

wire around a magnet

 the first coil, called the primary coil, is

connected to the power source

 the second coil, called the secondary coil, is

connected to the load
 a load is something that uses electricity, such as
a light bulb or a motor
Transformers

 a transformer only works with alternating

current
Transformers

 a step-up transformer increases voltage

 it consists of more coils of wire in the

secondary coil than the primary coil
Transformers

 a step-down transformer decreases

voltage

 it consists of more coils of wire in the

primary coil than the secondary coil
Electric Motors

 electric motor – device that changes

electrical energy into mechanical energy
Electric Motors

 an electric motor is made up of an

electromagnet and a permanent magnet
Electric Motors

 the electromagnet is free to turn and is

hooked up to a source of alternating
current

 changing the direction of an electric current

causes the poles of an electromagnet to
reverse
Electric Motors

 attraction and repulsion between the

electromagnet and the permanent
magnet cause the electromagnet to spin
Generators

 generator – device that changes

mechanical energy into electrical energy

 a current can be induced in a loop of wire by

spinning the loop inside a magnetic field

 due to the changing direction of the wire, an

alternating current is produced
Generators

 an electric generator is made up of an

insulated loop of wire and a U-shaped
magnet

 spinning the loop of wire in the magnetic

field of the magnet produces an electric
current
Generators

 most of the energy we use every day

comes from generators
Generators

 mechanical energy for many generators

is supplied by turbines

 a turbine is a large wheel that is turned by

moving steam or water