EXPLORING MAGNETS
CH – 4
What is a magnet ?
• Any substance which attracts pieces of iron towards itself
and always comes to rest in N-S direction is known as a
magnet.
What is magnetism ?
• The property of a magnet to attract things made up of
Iron, Cobalt or Nickel is known as magnetism.
Interesting facts about magnets
• Travellers used a device, known as a magnetic compass, for
finding directions.
• The magnets used by sailors in the olden days were based on
naturally occurring magnets, known as lodestones.
• Nowadays, we have magnets made of different materials. The
magnets that you find in your school laboratory and those
used in pencil boxes, stickers, toys are all artificial magnets.
Magnetic Substances and Non-
Magnetic Materials
• The materials which are attracted towards a magnet are called
magnetic materials. E.g., Iron, Cobalt and Nickel.
• The materials which are not attracted towards a magnet are
called non-magnetic materials. E.g., wood, rubber, copper,
plastic etc.
Poles of a magnet
• Spread some iron filings (very small pieces of iron) on a
sheet of paper.
• Place a bar magnet over them. Tap the paper and
observe carefully what happens to the iron filings.
• We find that maximum iron filings stick near the ends
of the bar magnet
Poles of a magnet
• The ends of the magnet where the magnetic force is
concentrated are called magnetic poles.
• Each magnet has 2 poles : North & South pole.
Put your thinking caps on!!!
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN A MAGNET IS BROKEN INTO
SMALLER PIECES???
Ans. If a magnet is broken into smaller pieces, North
and South poles always exist in pairs even in the
smallest piece of the magnet. A single North pole or a
South pole cannot exist.
Finding directions using a magnet
• A freely suspended magnet always rests in N-S direction.
• A freely suspended magnet rests along the
north-south direction because our Earth itself
behaves like a giant magnet.
Making your own magnet
• The bar magnet (with north pole in this figure) is placed at end
A if the steel bar, and moved towards end B without lifting the
magnet.
• Once it reaches end B of the steel bar, the magnet is lifted and
placed at end A and moved towards end B in the same
direction as before.
• Steps 1 and 2 are repeated at least 30 times. This method of
moving the magnet over the steel bar is referred to as rubbing
the steel bar or stroking the steel bar with the magnet. The
steel bar should be rubbed with the magnet in the same
direction, otherwise the steel bar will not get magnetized.
Attraction and Repulsion between Magnets
• Unlike poles of two magnets,
that is, the North pole of one
magnet and the South pole of
another magnet, attract each
other.
• The like poles, that is, either
the North poles or the South
poles of both magnets, repel
each other.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE BRING A BAR
MAGNET NEAR A MAGNETIC COMPASS?
When the North pole of a magnet
is brought closer to the North
pole of the compass needle, it
moves away.
When the South pole of the
magnet is brought closer to the
North pole of the compass
needle, it moves closer.
WHAT IF WE PUT ANY NON - MAGNETIC MATERAL
IN BETWEEN THE BAR MAGNET AND THE
MAGNETIC COMPASS???
• Without disturbing the bar magnet and
magnetic compass, if we place a piece of
wood between them, perpendicular to
the table, we will observe that there is
no appreciable change in the deflection
of the needle of the magnetic compass.
• So, we can conclude that the magnetic
effect can act through non-magnetic
materials.
How to keep the Magnets safe?
• The bar magnets are stored in pairs by
using keepers which are 2 pieces of soft
iron, placed across the ends of the bar
magnets. A wooden block is also placed
between the two magnets.
How to keep the Magnets safe?
• Do not heat the magnet.
• Do not drop them.
• Do not keep them near any electrical
equipment.
• Do not hammer the magnets.
Ncert questions and answers
1. (i) attract, repel
(ii) magnetic materials
(iii) North-South direction
(iv) two poles
2. (i) False
(ii) true
(iii) false
(iv) true
7. To identify the north pole of an unmarked bar magnet without another
magnet, suspend it freely by a string tied around its center, allowing it to
rotate and rest. The end pointing towards the Earth's geographic North Pole is
the magnet's north pole. And therefor the other end will be South Pole.
9. The mechanic should magnetize the screwdriver to create a temporary
magnet, which will attract and hold the steel screws, preventing them from
falling. By rubbing a permanent magnet along the metal shaft of the
screwdriver several times in one direction, the tip becomes magnetic.
10. The ring magnet X does not move down because like poles (N-N or S-S) of
magnets X and Y are facing each other. To make them touch without pushing,
flip magnet X or Y over, allowing opposite poles to attract, pulling X down.
11. Based on the arrangement of magnets, the polarities at the specified ends
are as follows:
End 1: North (N)
End 2: South (S)
End 3: North (N)
End 4: South (S)
End 6: South (S)