Physics Magnets

What are the four magnetic materials?

Iron, Steel, Nickel, Cobalt

How would you find out which materials are magnetic?

See if they are attracted to a magnet

What are some uses of magnets?

Compasses and fridge magnets

What is a magnetic field?

the area around a magnet in which the effect of magnetism is felt

What direction do the magnetic field lines go?

North to south

What does the proximity of the magnetic field lines tell you?

How strong the magnet is

How does a compass work?

A permanently magnetised needle is placed so that it can rotate freely. The Earth's magnetic field exerts a force on the compass needle, causing it to rotate until it comes to rest in the same direction as the magnetic field.

Where is the Earth’s magnetic field the strongest?

The poles

How do you magnetise something?

Stroke it with a magnet

How do you demagnetise a magnet

Drop it or heat it

Why does iron make a better electromagnet than steel

Iron holds its magnetism for shorter time so the magnet isn’t permanent.

How can an electromagnet be turned on and off?

Break the circuit

How can you increase the strength of an electromagnet?

Increase the number of coils or increase the current

State uses of electromagnets

Electric buzzers, loudspeakers and scrapyard magnets

Why are electomagnets used in scrapyards

to sort through magnetic and mon magnetic material

What is produced around an electric current

A magnetic field

What happens when a magnetic material is placed near an electric current

It will be attracted

How does a magnet work?

Aligned domains create a magnetic force