Magnetic Fields and Electromagnets Flashcards

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering the properties of magnets, magnetic fields, Earth's magnetism, and electromagnets based on lecture notes.

Magnetic forces

Referred to as non-contact forces because magnets can attract certain materials with no contact.

Permanent magnets

Magnets that retain their magnetism even when removed from other magnets and keep their effects for a long time.

Temporary magnets

Magnets that lose their magnetism when removed from another magnet, such as paperclips.

Repulsion

An opposing force in which like poles push away and objects move away from each other.

Magnetic field

The area where the magnetic force acts, which can be drawn as a map of lines showing size and direction.

North to south

The direction in which the magnetic field lines move.

Field strength

Characterized by the distance between lines; the force is greater when lines are close together and weaker when they are further apart.

Magnetic north pole

A point that is hundreds of kilometers apart from the geographic North Pole of the Earth.

Electromagnets

Temporary magnets that only become magnetic when connected to an electric current.

Electromagnet examples

Devices such as doorbells, metal detectors, speakers, phones, motors, and generators.

Like poles

Two north poles or two south poles that repel each other when brought close together.

Opposite poles

The north pole of one magnet and the south pole of another which attract each other.