MAGNETISM
Name -T. Vaibhavi Patel
Class -7C
Roll no- 36
Subject- Physics
PROPERTIES OF
A MAGNET
1. Attractive property of a magnet-a
magnet attracts the magnetic
materials like iron ,steel ,cobalt and
nickel towards itself .Thus, the
property which enables a magnet to
exert force of attraction on the
magnetic materials is known as the
attractive property of magnet.
2. Directive property of a magnet-When
a magnet is suspended freely in the
horizontal direction ,it always comes
to rest in the north-south
direction .On disturbing the magnet
you will notice that the magnet will
again align itself along the same
north-south direction after some time
.This happens because the magnetic
field of the magnet interacts with the
magnetic field on the earth.
The end of the magnet which points towards the geographical north pole is called the north
pole or the north seeking pole, and the end of the magnet which points towards the
geographical south pole is called the south pole or the south seeking pole.
The directive property of the magnets has been used to devise a magnetic compass. A magnetic compass is used by
mariners and investigators to find the geographical directions. It has a circular aluminium case covered with glass
having a small magnetic needle at the center. The needle is made to rotate freely on a frictionless pivot and always
points in the north-south direction.
• Property of co-existence of poles- Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole.
It is not possible to isolate the north pole from its south pole. Both the poles co-
exist in a magnet. When a magnet is broken down into various pieces, each piece
will behave as a bar magnet having a north and a south pole.
The magnetic strength of a magnet is maximum at the poles and minimum at the
centre.
• Like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other.
LAW OF MAGNETISM
Like poles of two magnets repel and unlike poles attract each other. It is seen that the north poles of two
magnets will repel each other and the same holds true for their south poles. On the contrary, the north pole of
one magnet will attract the south pole of the another magnet and vice versa.
Repulsion is a true test for magnetism. This is because when a magnet is brought near another magnet, it will
always attract another magnet when their unlike poles are facing each other. But, when two like poles are
brought near each other, repulsion will be experienced. This can be used as a sure test for magnetism.
MAGNETIC FIELD AROUND A MAGNET
The space around a magnet where its magnetic force can be experienced by nearby magnetic objects is called
magnetic field. Therefore, if we place any iron object or magnetic in the magnetic field of a magnet, they get
attracted towards it.
The magnetic field of a magnet decreases with distance. This means as the distance from the magnet increases, the
magnetic field decreases and the magnetic force exerted by it also decreases. Therefore, the magnetic field around a
magnet is the strongest near it and decreases with distance .
This activity shows that the magnetic strength of a magnet is the strongest at the poles and the weakest at the
centre . The continuous curved loops around the magnet are known as the magnetic lines of force. The direction of
magnetic lines of force is from north pole to south pole of a magnet when observed outside the magnet. However,
inside the magnet, these lines of force move from south pole to north pole. Thus, magnetic lines form closed and
ELECTROMAGNETISM
When current is passed through a conductor, it produces a magnetic field around the conductor. This discovery
was accidently made in 1820 by a Danish scientist Hans Christian Oersted who noticed, during a lecture, that a
compass needle deflected from the magnetic north when electric current from a battery was switched on and
off.
The branch of physics which deals with the study of magnetic effect of current and its applications is known as
electromagnetism.
ELECTROMAGNETS
An electromagnet is a temporary magnet which is formed by passage of electric current and the magnetic field
is included as long as the current is passed through the circuit. It works on the magnetic effect of current.
An electromagnet consists of a long wire wound on a soft iron core. The uniformly wound coil of a long
insulated copper wire in the form of a cylinder is know as a solenoid. When electric current is passed through
the solenoid, the soft iron barf starts behaving like a bar magnet. The magnetic strength of the soft iron bar is
stronger than the magnetic effect produced by the wire alone. Therefore, an electromagnet is a solenoid with a
soft iron core.