Magnetism Lecture Notes

Flashcards about Magnetism

What substance did ancient Greeks use related to magnetism?

Magnetite

What were stones of magnetite called that were used in navigation?

Lodestones

Where is the magnetic effect strongest on a magnet?

At the poles (N and S)

What happens if you cut a magnet in half?

You get two magnets, each with a north and south pole.

What happens when like poles of magnets are brought together?

They repel each other.

What happens when opposite poles of magnets are brought together?

They attract each other.

What do magnetic field lines represent?

The magnetic field around a magnet.

What causes atoms to have magnetic properties?

The spin of their electrons.

What are 'domains' in the context of magnetism?

Groups of atoms joined so that their magnetic fields are aligned in the same direction.

What happens to the domains when a magnet is dropped or heated?

The domains become random again, causing the substance to become unmagnetized.

What indicates the direction of a magnetic field?

The north end of a compass needle.

Where are magnetic field lines closest on horseshoe and disk magnets?

At the poles.

What creates Earth's magnetic field?

The nickel-iron core of the Earth.

Which magnetic pole does a compass needle point towards?

The magnetic south pole (which we call 'North').

What is another name for the Aurora Borealis?

Northern Lights