Key Stage 3 Science ( Physics)

Magnetism

This Section is about magnetism. It has these parts in it:

Bar magnets

Magnetic fields

The Earth's magnetic field

Electromagnets

Using electromagnets
Bar Magnets

Bar magnets are permanent magnets. This means that their magnetism is there all the time and cannot
be turned on or off. They have two poles:

north pole (short for north-seeking pole)

south pole (short for south-seeking pole).

The north pole is normally shown as N and the south pole is normally shown as S.

A bar magnet

Magnets are made from magnetic materials. These are metals that can be magnetised or will be
attracted to a magnet. Most materials are not magnetic, but iron, cobalt and nickel are magnetic. Steel
is mostly iron, so steel is magnetic too.

Attract and repel

If you bring two bar magnets together, there are two things that can happen:

if you bring a north pole and a south pole together, they attract and the magnets may stick
together;
if you bring two north poles together, or two south poles together, they repel and the magnets
push each other away.

We say that unlike poles attract, and like poles repel.

Remember that unmagnetised iron, steel, cobalt and nickel objects will be attracted to either pole of a
magnet. This means you can only show that an object is a magnet if it repels a known magnet.
Magnetic fields

Magnets create magnetic fields. These cannot be seen. They are the space around a magnet where
magnetic materials are affected by forces, and so may be attracted or repelled.

Although we cannot see magnetic fields, we can detect them using iron filings. The tiny pieces of iron
line up in the magnetic field.

It would be difficult to draw the results from the sort of experiment seen in the photograph, so we draw
simple magnetic field lines instead. In the diagram, note that:

the field lines come out of N and go into S

the field lines are more concentrated at the poles.

The magnetic field is strongest at the poles, where the field lines are most concentrated.
Attraction and magnetic fields
Iron filings can show the magnetic field between two magnets where unlike poles face each other, and
so attract.

If we look at the field lines, we see that they go from the north pole of one magnet to the south pole of
the other magnet.

Magnetic field lines between two attracting magnets

Repulsion and magnetic fields

Iron filings can also show the magnetic field between two magnets where like poles face each other,
and so repel.

If we look at the field lines, we see that they do not go from one magnet to the other, and they do not
cross.
Magnetic field lines between two repelling magnets
The earth's magnetic field

The Earth does not contain a giant bar magnet, but it behaves as if it does. The Earth has a magnetic
north pole and a magnetic south pole. Compasses work because bar magnets can line up in the Earth's
magnetic field and point north. Make sure you understand these things:

the north pole of a bar magnet is actually called the 'north-seeking pole', and it points to the
Earth's magnetic north pole;
the south pole of a bar magnet is actually called the 'south-seeking pole', and it points to the
Earth's magnetic south pole.

Compasses point towards the Earth's magnetic north pole

Small compasses called plotting compasses can be used to show the magnetic field around a bar
magnet, instead of using iron filings. The needle in each compass turns and lines up along the field
lines.
 A line of plotting compasses follows a field line

If we arrange some plotting compasses around a bar magnet, we see that the needles point away from
the magnet's north pole and towards its south pole.

Plotting compasses in a circle

When you do this experiment, it is important to keep iron or steel objects away, otherwise the compass
needles might point to them instead.
Electromagnets
A magnetic field is produced when an electric current flows through a coil of wire. This is the basis of
the electromagnet. We can make an electromagnet stronger by doing these things:

wrapping the coil around an iron core

adding more turns to the coil
increasing the current flowing through the coil.

How to make a simple electromagnet

The magnetic field around an electromagnet is just the same as the one around a bar magnet. It can,
however, be reversed by turning the battery around. Unlike bar magnets, which are permanent
magnets, the magnetism of electromagnets can be turned on and off just by closing or opening the
switch.
Using Electromagnets

Many objects around you contain electromagnets. They are found in electric motors and loudspeakers.
Very large and powerful electromagnets are used as lifting magnets in scrap yards to pick up, then
drop, old cars and other scrap iron and steel.

An electromagnet in a scrap yard

Electric bell
Electric bells like the ones used in most schools also contain an electromagnet.

When the current flows through the circuit, the electromagnet makes a magnetic field.
The electromagnet attracts the springy metal arm.
The arm hits the gong, which makes a sound and the circuit is broken.
The electromagnet is turned off and the springy metal arm moves back.
The circuit is complete again.
 Magnetism Test

1. Which of the following are magnetic poles ?

a) north and south
b) east and west
c) red and blue

2. Which of the following is not a magnetic material ?

a) steel
b) cobalt
c) aluminium

3. What do two like poles do when they are brought close together ?
a) they attract
b) they repel
c) they make an electric current flow

4. What do two unlike poles do when they are brought close together ?
a) they attract
b) they repel
c) they make an electric current flow

5. In which direction do the field lines go around a bar magnet ?

a) from south to north
b) from north to south
c) from left to right

6. Where are the fields most concentrated around a bar magnet ?

a) at both poles
b) in the middle
c) at the north pole only

7. Why does the Earth have a magnetic field ?

a) it contains a giant bar magnet
b) so we know which way is north
c) it contains a core of iron and nickel
8. How can we increase the strength of an electromagnet ?
a) add an iron core
b) reduce the number of turns on the coil
c) reduce the current in the coil

9. One of the difference between electromagnets and bar magnets is ?

a) bar magnets can be turned off but electromagnets cannot
b) bar magnets have a magnetic field but electromagnets do not.
c) electromagnets need electricity but bar magnets do not.
 Answers
1. Answer a
Magnets are believed to have 2 poles which are named as North and South. East
and West are directions while red and blue are just colours with no connection to
magnets.

2. Answer c
Steel and cobalt are good magnetic materials while aluminium does not have the
characteristics of a good magnet.

3. Answer b
When two like poles are brought together they repel because as we know like
charges repel.

4. Answer a
Two unlike poles when brought together attract each other.

5. Answer b
The direction of the field lines of a magnet start from North and move onto South.
Look at the diagram in the lesson above to have a clearer picture.

6. Answer a
At both the poles the magnetic field would be stronger as the fields will be
coming from both the directions

7. Answer c
Iron and nickel are magnetic materials and since the core of the Earth is made up
of them, the Earth has a magnetic Field.

8. Answer a
The strength of an electromagnet can be increased by adding a strong magnetic
material such as iron to it's core.

9. Answer c
Bar magnets work solely on the principle of magnetism while an electromagnet
requires electricity for its proper functioning.