Magnetism

Magnetism is an effect that we cannot see, hear or touch. It is caused by magnets. What is a magnet? A magnet is a body which attracts iron, combinations of metals (known as alloys) or other materials which are composed of iron or iron-like substances. Additionally, the magnet can "magnetize" other objects which in turn act like magnets. Other iron objects will be attracted to the magnetized object.

Types of magnets .

There are many different types of magnets, the most common are Bar magnet, Flat magnet, horseshoe magnet and ring magnets. Magnets were first discovered near the ancient Asian city of Magnesia. Certain stones had special characteristics. These stones were called magnetite. When suspended from a string these rocks always pointed north. The Earth itself is a magnet and contains a great deal of iron. On the other hand the Earth's moon is largely made of aluminum, not iron. The moon does not act like a magnet and magnetic compasses do not work on the moon.
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Have you ever used a compass? A magnetic compass has a non-magnetic casing (container). The compass needle is magnetic and is free to pivot around in a circle. The compass needle points to the earth's magnetic north. A magnetic compass works through air, water, glass, and walls.

The Magnetic Compass Points Towards Magnetic North

The two ends of the magnet are different and are referred to as the north and south pole (or north-seeking pole and south-seeking pole). Like poles repel. The south poles of two magnets will not attract one another. Neither will the north poles of two magnets. The north pole of one magnet and the south pole of another magnet will attract one another. Unlike poles attract.

Like Poles Repel -- Unlike Poles Attract

So, what is the difference between a magnet and a piece of magnetic material? The easiest way to tell them apart is that a magnet can repel and attract another magnet. Whereas, a piece of magnetic material can only attract a magnet! Where do magnets come from? Magnetite is a natural magnet. Magnetite rocks have been in the ground for thousands of years. Scientists believe the Earth's own magnetism may slowly align the tiny iron particles in these rocks. Scientists believe that the smallest particles of iron in an object are each small magnets that point in various directions. When the object is magnetized these magnetic particles all line up in a specific direction. Now the combined strength of these particles make the magnetism stronger.

Unaligned dipoles in Iron and aligned in a magnet. In fact there are only three magnetic elements, iron, nickel and cobalt that can form a magnet. These are called Ferromagnetic materials. In practice you will only use iron,or steel which is an alloy of iron. Even some plastics are magnetic because they have magnetic substance mixed in them.

If you break up a magnet, you will see, new north and south poles form immediately. A magnetic pole cannot be isolated.
Cutting a magnet in half will not isolate a single north or south. One magnet becomes two, then four, and so on. This process will never end; even when the last electron spin dipole is reached, it cannot be cut to reveal a single north or single south pole.

Magnetic field and magnetic lines of force

When a magnet is kept in a place, it influences the space surrounding itself. The effects of a strong magnet can be felt some distance away from it. This space around a magnet is called its "magnetic field".

The pattern is called the magnetic lines of force. The effect the magnet has around its surrounding is called the magnetic field. The strength of a magnetic force, similar to an electric force field, is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from the magnet (or centre of a magnetic dipole).

The properties of lines of force can be enumerated as : 1. They are said to originate from the north pole and end at the south pole. This is only a convention. 2. The lines of forces of a particular magnet do not intersect with each other.
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3. A line of force is continuous : starts from the north pole and ends at the south pole. 4. There is no line of force within the magnet. Magnetic effects can be forced on substances that can then become magnetic themselves. The substances have to be made of magnetically favourable materials like iron, nickel, steel, etc. This is called Magnetic Induction. Take an iron nail. It is not magnetic initially. Bring its head close to a bar magnet. Let it get attached to the north pole of the magnet. Slowly the nail itself will start attracting other nails. Thus the first nails head gets induced as a south pole and it itself becomes a magnet. Its free end acquires a north pole. Thus the iron nails become induced as magnets. After the nails are removed, they may continue to behave as tiny magnets, but will loose their magnetic effect after some time. Making magnets. 1. Hammerring steel 2. Stroking method - This involves inducing magnetism in bars of iron by rubbing them in a particular manner over other permanent magnets.

Stroking a piece of unmagnetised iron or steel with a known magnet can make it into a magnet.

This causes the molecules to line up in the NorthSouth orientation.

3. Solenoid method This involves introducing a magnet into a solenoid and switching the direct current for a short time.

Handling or breaking, heating, etc may destroy magnetism. Such effects are called demagnetizing effects. In order to avoid demagnetizing effects, a permanent magnet is always kept stuck to soft iron materials called keepers. These keepers help the poles to stay apart and not get stuck to each other or bang against each other. Iron Soft magnetic material . Iron is very easy to become a magnet but it also loses its magnetism easily as well. Very useful for making temporary magnets. E.g. electromagnets, transformers, reed switches, magnetic switches Steel Hard magnetic material . Steel is much more difficult to become a magnet but it retains its magnetism. Very useful for making permanent magnets. E.g. compass, fridge door rubber, oil sump tap, magnetic disks, tapes

There are some simple facts about magnetism that you should know

1. A magnet has a magnetic field around it .This is a

region where magnet materials experience a force. 2. This field is strongest at its poles, which are at the ends of the magnet. 3. A magnet has two poles, a North-seeking pole and a South-seeking pole. These names are often shortened to North pole and South pole. 4. The shape of the magnetic field around the magnet is shown by lines. These are called magnetic lines of force or Flux lines. 5. Arrows on the lines point away from North and towards South to show the direction of the magnetic field. 6. Notice that the lines of magnetic force do not cross each other. 7. The closer together the lines are, the stronger the field is. 8. You need to know the shape of the magnetic field for a bar magnet, poles which attract and poles which repel.

Magnetic Field patterns

Notice that the lines of magnetic force between the poles are parallel.

The region in the centre of the poles shown by the red star has no magnetic field, as the two opposing fields cancel each other out.
Practical Uses of magnets in everyday life : 1. oil drain plug in cars 2. Freezer and refrigerator doors 3. Magnetic letters on notice boards 4. Magnetic ink in cheques 5. In hospitals to remove iron splinters 6. Magnetic compasses 7. Magnetic screwdrivers 8. Magnetic tapes, videos, disks

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