Physics REVISION Properties of Magnets

Magnets are normally made out of magnetic material such

as Iron, Nickel and Cobalt. These are the only materials
that can be turned in a permanent magnet.Steel, due to
the fact it is an iron alloy, can also be made into a
magnet.

The magnetic forces between two bodies are due to the

interaction between moving electrons in the atoms.
This is demonstrated very well by a current flowing in a
wire. If you brought a compass near the wire it would
defect. The amount of deflection and direction of the
deflection is dependent on the amount and direction of
the current.
Magnets exert forces on each other just like charges.
You can draw
magnetic field lines just like you drew electric field
lines.
Magnets create magnetic fields, they fill the space
around a magnet where magnetic forces work. The field
lines cannot be seen but shown using iron filings.
Magnetic fields lines of a bar magnet are shown below.
The types of fields are hard to draw so we use simple
magnetic field lines instead. The closer the field lines
are are the stronger and more concentrated the
magnetic field. They are stronger nearer the poles.
They always run from N to S, contain arrows to show
direction and never overlap.

INDUCED MAGNETISM is when a piece of iron is

brought close to a magnet it becomes magnetic and is
attracted to the magnet. A permanent magnet will attract
a metal like iron with either the north or south pole. No
magnetic materials such as copper or aluminum will be be
attracted to a magnet.

Ferrous and non-ferrous materials

Ferrous: Containing a large proportion of Iron (e.g. Iron,
steel)
Non-Ferrous: Containing no iron
Compass

Attract

Attract

Repel

Repel

Physics REVISION Properties of Magnets and Electromagnets

Distinguish between the magnetic
properties of iron and steel.
There are 2 types of iron:
Soft Iron and Hard Iron. (If you were hit on
the head with a soft iron bar, it would still
feel very hard).
Soft iron is easy to magnetise, but does
not retain its magnetism in the absence of
a magnetic field.
Soft Iron has high susceptibility and low
retentivity (ability to keep magnetic
properties). This makes soft iron ideal for
applications where the magnetic field can
be turned on and off, e.g. as the core of an
electromagnet.
Hard Iron and Steel retains its magnetism
in the absence of a magnetic field.
However, unlike Hard Iron, Steel is harder
to magnetize therefore Hard Iron has high
susceptibility
and high
Distinguish
between
theretentivity,
design andwhereas
use of
Steel
has
low
susceptibility
and
high
permanent magnets and electromagnets.
retentivity.
Electromagnets are temporary: a result of
the electric field (flow of electrons). When
the current/voltage. is removed, the
magnetism goes away. They are very useful
as they can turned on and off.
Permanent magnets have their atoms
aligned to produce a constant magnetic
field.
Use of Permanent magnets: Compasses,
Apples MagSafe chargers, fridge magnets,
generators, dynamos, magnetic
screwdrivers.

Physics REVISION Electromagnetism

Electromagnets
A coil of wire acts like a bar magnet when it has
an electric current flowing through it. One end of
the coil becomes a north-seeking pole. One end
of the coil becomes a south seeking pole.
This is called an electromagnet. There are three
ways to make an electromagnet stronger

More turns on the coil

More electrical current

Using an iron core

If you turn the battery around the poles simply

reverse. South become north and north becomes
south.
Electromagnets are made of materials who's
magnetism can be switched on and off in a
circuit. Usually iron or mumetal is used as they
Relays
are soft magnets.
Solenoid
If we coil the wire it creates a structure we
call a solenoid. When a current is passed
through the solenoid it creates a magnetic
field which is:
Stronger than in a straight wire
Has a field pattern similar to that of a bar
magnet
The direction of the magnetic field polarity
can be identified by looking at the ends of
the solenoid to identify the direction in which
the current is flowing. They have an
enormous number of practical uses. The

The relay consists of two circuits. Circuit 1 is a simple

electromagnet which requires only a small current. When
the switched is closed, current flows and the iron rocker
arm is attracted to the electromagnet. The tilts on a pivot
closing the contacts in Circuit 2, turning it on.
Circuit 2 often has a large current flowing through it,
allowing it to operate a powerful motor or bright lights.
Opening the switch turns off the electromagnet releasing
the rocker arm therefore moving the contacts apart. Circuit
2 is now switched off.
The advantages of using a relay is that a small current
(circuit 1) can be used to switch on and off a circuit with a
large current (circuit 2) saving energy costs. Also this is
useful because the low current circuit (circuit 1) may use a
component such as LDR or Thermistor in order to allow

Physics REVISION Left Hand Rule

Field around a Current Carrying

Wire & Right Hand Grip Rule
When a current flows in a straight wire,
a circular magnetic field is created
around the wire. This is called
electromagnetism. They are strongest
closest to the wire
If you increase the current, this
increases the field. The field created is
not very strong. The magnetic field
lines around a long wire which carries
an electric current form concentric
circles around the wire. The direction
of the magnetic field is perpendicular
A current
carrying
wire inbya magnetic
to
the wire
and given
the right field
hand
grip rule.

Magnetic Field

Current Carrying Wire

LHR the direction of alpha particle represents flow

of convectional current from positive to negative.
Left to right on the diagram above so your second
finger points from left to right. As the field is coming
out of the page then you first finger should be
pointing towards you meaning your thumb is facing
downwards, hence the alpha particle moves down
and away from the field. Beta particles act as though
the current is going negative to positive so now your
second finger is pointing right to left, your first
finger is still pointing towards you, meaning your
thumb s now pointing up. Hence, the beta particle
Reversing
either
Direction
moving up and
out of Current
the field. and
The beta
deflect of
the
in aitDC
reverse the direction
morefield
because
is aMotor
lighterwill
particle.

of spin/rotation of motor. If you change both it

will have no effect at all!
In the situation of a single wire it will simply
reverse the direction of movement.
Electric Motor Effect and Flemings Left Hand Rule
1. A CURRENT FLOWS through a conductor (normally a wire)....
2. .....which is then placed in a MAGNETIC FIELD....
3.....and as a result the CONDUCTOR experiences a FORCE (motion) acting on
it which will try to move the conductor (wire) out of the field
Direction of Force

The direction of the force or motion is given by FLEMMINGS LEFT HAND

Physics REVISION D.C Motor

DC Motor
If we follow the model through its rotation we will see that
the motor can only complete half a revolution.
To complete a circle (revolution) the direction of the force on
the conductor must change when it reaches the top or bottom
of rotation.
To change the direction of the force every half revolution the
current is changed every half revolution. This is seen by
following the model with the LEFT HAND RULE.
The change in direction of the current every half revolution is
achieved by using the commutator and brushes arrangement
shown on the diagram.
Split ring and Commutator
Initially the current flow from +ve to ve from D round to A.
This means according to the LHR side A B moves up and C
D goes down.
After half a rotation ( or 180 degrees) the split rings are now
attached to opposite sides so that current still flows from +ve
to ve but now goes from A round to D (ie in reverse) so the
current going into the coil remains DC but it is AC in the coil
Increasing Force/Motion/Motor Speed
every half term.
To
increase the size of the force/motion or speed up a DC
This
means now according to the LHR A - B now moves down
Motor, you can do one of the following things:
and C-D goes up, keeping the motor rotating in the same

increase the strength of the MAGNETIC FIELD

direction.

increase the size of the current/voltage

Increase the surface of wire in the field by adding more

wire coils or making the wire thicker or longer.

Reversing either Current and Direction of

the field in a DC Motor will reverse the direction of
spin/rotation of motor. If you change both it will
have no effect at all!
In the situation of a single wire it will simply
reverse the direction of movement.
Motor Effect used to
create electric motors such
as power drills and loud
speakers
How a loudspeaker
works. When a fluctuating
electric current flows
through the coil (orange), it
becomes a temporary
electromagnet, attracted
and repelled by the
permanent magnet
(blue/red). As the coil
moves, it moves the cone
(gray) back and forth,

Physics REVISION Electromagnetic Induction and Right Hand Rule

Electromagnetic Induction works whether

...the conductor moves to cut the lines of the
magnetic field
Induction a current in a conductor is possible when
Or....the magnet moves so its field lines cut through a
magnetic field lines (lines of flux are cut by
conductor.
movement of the conductor.
2.The conductor MUST be part of a complete circuit.
By moving a wire up and down inside a magnetic field, it
3.The size of the induced current and pd increases when: intersects the field perpendicularly, thus generating a
...the speed increases
current that is registered in the galvanometer. When the
...more coils, or turns on the coil, are
wire is moved in the opposite direction (e.g. up instead
used.
of down), the current flows the other way, creating an
Electromagnetic
Induction
also as
in a
...the area of the coil is greater
Alternating Current.
This isworks
also known
Faradays
...the strength of the magnetic field is coil/solenoid.
Law.
Either a the coil moves to cut the lines of the magnetic field
greater.
Or....the magnet moves so its field lines cut through a coil.
2.The conductor MUST be part of a complete circuit.
3.The size of the induced current and pd is increased by the
same factors as a single wire.
Lenzs law explains what happens in the coil. As the
magnet moves towards the coil, its fields lines are cut
inducing a weak current. The end of the coil nearest the
magnet turns into a N pole to oppose the incoming N pole to
slow down the movement and therefore prevent the field
lines being cut. Over coming this opposing force is what
helps induce the EMF. As you bring the magnet out of the
field, it again wants to prevent the movement so the end

Physics REVISION A.C Generator

A.C. Generator
1. A conductor has motion (rotation) in a
magnetic field....
2. ....the conductor cuts the lines of
magnetic flux (magnetic field lines)....
3. .....which induces a current in the
conductor (normally a coil).
The Slip-Ring arrangement
Increase the a.c output
allows each side of the circuit in
by: Increasing the speed of
the coil to remain connected to
motion, strength of
the same slip ring. The
magnetic field and amount
continuous contact allows a
of coil in the field.
constant output of current.
Using Flemings Right Hand
Rule, we see that the current
changes direction in the coil
every half-revolution.
Initially the current goes up AB
and down CD. After one half
rotation (180 degrees) current is
now flowing up DC and down BC
producing an alternating
output (a.c)on the
galvanometer.
A.C. Generator Output
When the coil is vertical (A) the output is
minimal (0V) as there is minimum disturbance
in the magnetic field. When the coil is
horizontal (B) the output is maximum as there
is maximum disturbance in the magnetic field.
After 180 degrees (one half turn) the output
changes direction because the current is now
flowing up a different side of the coil.