Magnetism

Key Terms on Magnetism

  • Magnet: An object that produces a magnetic field, attracting ferromagnetic materials like iron.

  • Magnetic Field: A vector field surrounding magnets and electric currents, represented by field lines showing the direction and strength of the magnetic force.

  • North and South Pole: The regions of a magnet where the magnetic effect is strongest; like poles repel each other, while opposite poles attract.

  • Electromagnet: A type of magnet where the magnetic field is produced by an electric current, typically using a coil of wire around a ferromagnetic core.

  • Ferromagnetism: A property of certain materials (like iron) that can be magnetized; their magnetic domains can align parallel to an external magnetic field.

  • Gauss: A unit of measurement for magnetic flux density, defined as one Maxwell per square centimeter.

  • Magnetic Flux: A measure of the quantity of magnetism, considering the strength and the extent of the magnetic field; measured in Webers (Wb).

  • Lorentz Force: The total force experienced by a charged particle moving through a magnetic field; depends on the charge, velocity, and magnetic field strength.