Physical Science - Chapter 20

magnet

any material or object that can produce a magnetic field

magnetism

the properties of magnets and magnetic fields and phenomena that they produce

magnetic pole

one of the two regions of concentrated magnetic fields in a magnet; traditionally called the north and south poles

magnetic field

the region surrounding a magnet or current-containing wire that can apply a magnetic force on magnetic materials

magnetic South pole

the magnetic pole in the Southern Hemisphere

magnetic North pole

the magnetic pole in the Northern Hemisphere

magnetic declination

the angular difference between the directions to the geographic and magnetic North Poles

magnetic domain

a group of atoms whose individual magnetic fields are aligned

ferromagnetism

the physical property in which a materials magnetic domains spontaneously align to an external magnetic field

right-hand rule

a mnemonic device used to remember the direction of the magnetic field induced by an electric current moving through a wire

solenoid

a coil of current-carrying wire used as a magnet

electromagnet

the combination of a strong magnet and an electrified wire coil

electromagnet induction

the principle that voltage is produced in a conductor whenever the conductor whenever the conductor and a magnetic field are changed relative to each other

generator

a device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy by electromagnetic induction

rotor

the rotating portion of a generator

stator

the stationary portion of a generator

prime mover

the agent that provides the mechanical energy to turn the rotor of a generator

commutator

a structure in DC motors and generators that converts currents between DC and AC

transformer

a device that uses electromagnetic induction to increase or decrease the voltage of an AC current

step-down transformer

a transformer that is designed to decrease an output voltage

step-up transformer

a transformer that is designed to increase an output voltage