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Magnetic poles
If a piece of lodestone is dipped into iron filings it is noticed that the filings cling in tufts, usually at two places in particular. When the experiment is performed with a bar magnet the filings are seen to cling in tufts near the ends. Few, if any; filings are attracted to the middle of the bar. The places in a magnet where the resultant attractive force appears to be concentrated are called the poles.
Nev erth eles s, experiments with very powerful magnets have shown that even the so-called nonmagnetic substances have very feeble magnetic properties. (That will be discussed more in the next article).
If attraction occurs, no firm conclusion can be drawn, since attraction would be obtained between either: (a) two unlike poles, or (b) a pole and a piece of unmagnetized material. Repulsion is, therefore, the only sure test for polarity.
1- In single touch a steel bar is stroked from end to end several times in the same direction with one pole of a magnet. Between successive strokes the pole is lifted high above the bar, otherwise the magnetism already induced in it will tend to be weakened. The disadvantage of this method is that it produces magnets in which one pole is nearer the end of the bar than the other. 2- It is better to use the method of divided touch, in which the steel bar is stroked from the center outwards with unlike poles of two magnets simultaneously. In both of these methods it is to be noted that the polarity produced at that end of the bar where the stroking finishes is of opposite kind to that of the stroking pole. Steel knitting needles or pieces of clock spring may be magnetized by both methods and the polarity tested by obtaining repulsion with a magnetic needle. The magnets so made should also be dipped into iron filings, when the distribution of the filings will reveal the superiority of the method of divided touch.
Another obsolete method of making magnets is described in a treatise of magnetism written by Dr. Gilbert in the region of Elizabeth I. In this method red hot steel bars are hammered while allowing them to cool when lying in a N-S direction. (More illustration will be said about this method in the next post). Consequent poles One should never assume, without prior test, that a bar magnet always has opposite poles at its ends. If a steel bar is magnetized by divided touch using two S poles we obtain a N pole at both ends of the bar and a double S pole in the center. In this condition the bar is said to possess a consequent poles. Induced magnetism
When a piece of unmagn etized steel is placed either near to or in contact with a pole of a magnet and then removed it is found to be magnetized. This is called induced magnetism. Tests with a compass needle show that the induced pole nearest the magnet is of opposite sign to that of the inducing pole. Chain of nails experiment Induced magnetism can be used to form a magnetic chain, as you can see in the image. Each nail added to the chain magnetizes the next one by induction, and attraction occurs between their adjacent unlike poles. Incidentally, the attraction between a magnet and unmagnetized piece of material is always preceded by induction. Demagnetizing a magnet by use of alternating current The best way of demagnetizing a magnet is to place it inside a solenoid through which an alternating current is flowing. The current may be obtained from a 12 or 14 V mains transformer. While the current is still flowing, the magnet is withdrawn slowly to a distance of several meters from the solenoid in an E-W (East-West) direction. The alternating current takes the magnet through a series of everdimishing magnetic cycles, 50 times a second, until no magnetism is left in it. The magnet is held in an E-W direction so that it will not be left with some residual magnetism owing to induction in the earths magnetic field. Keep your watch away from magnets Unless with care, the above method is useful for demagnetizing a watch. Watches should always be kept a way from magnets, as the balance-spring, if made of steel, is liable to become magnetized. When this happens the watch no longer keeps good time. Another method of destroying magnetism is to heat the magnet to redness and then to allow it to cool while it is lying in an E-W direction.
This is not recommended as a practical method, since teat treatment will spoil the steel. Finally, it should be noted that any vibration or rough treatment, such as dropping or hammering, particularly when the magnet is lying E-W, will cause weakening of the magnetism.
To study the magnetic properties of iron and steel
It is important to distinguish between the magnetic properties of iron and steel. The term 'soft' as applied to iron means reasonably pure iron. It is otherwise known as wrought iron, and is soft in the sense that it bends easily and can be readily hammered into any required shape when red hot. Steel, which consists of iron combined with a small percentage of carbon, is a much harder and stronger material. A strip of soft iron and a strip of the same dimensions, both initially unmagnetized, are placed side by side in contact with a pole of magnet. Both strips becomes magnetized by induction, and on dipping their free ends into iron filings it is noticed that slightly more cling to the iron than to the steel. From this we conclude that the induced magnetism in the iron is slightly greater than that in the steel when both are subjected to the same magnetizing force. If both strips are held firmly in the fingers while the magnet is removed it is noticed that practically all the filings fall from the iron, while few, if any, fall from the steel. The magnetic chain experiment illustrated above may also be used to show the difference between iron and steel. If the topmost nail is held between finger and thumb while the magnet is removed the chain immediately collapse, showing that the induced magnetism in the iron is only temporary. When, however, the experiment is carried out using steel pen nibs or short pieces of clock-spring, the chain remains intact, showing that the magnetism induced in the steel is permanent. Uses of hard and soft magnetic materials Magnetic materials used in the electrical industry are classified as hard or soft according as to whether they retain their magnetism or lost it easily. Both types are equally important. Until the early years of the 20th century magnets were made of hard carbon steel 'iron containing 1-1.5 per cent carbon'.
Subsequently it was found that the addition of small proportions of tungsten, chromium and cobalt greatly improved the magnetic properties of the steel. Research along these lines has led to the discovery of special alloys for making powerful permanent magnets. Outstanding examples are Alcomax, Alnico and Ticonal, which contain iron, nickel, cobalt and aluminum in various proportions. Now, magnets in great range of types and sizes are used in the construction of electric motors, dynamos and current-measuring instruments. Several magnets may be found in the ordinary house-hold, for example, in the electricity meter, radio loudspeaker and telephone earpiece. In contrast with the above there are many types of electrical equipment in which rapid change or reversal of magnetism is required. Into this class come electric bells, relays, electromagnets, transformer cores and dynamo and motor armatures. In the construction of these, soft magnetic alloys such as Mumetal '73% nickel, 22% iron, 5% copper' and Stalloy '96% iron, 4% silicon' are used as well as soft iron. Sintered materials Much research has gone into the development of sintered magnetic materials. Sintering is the name given to the conversion of powder into solid blocks by the application of heat and great pressure. By using various metallic powders, either very soft or very hard magnetic materials may be made by this method. Many of the best permanent magnets for general use are of this type.