8.2 Magnetic Fields Flashcards
What is a magnetic field?
The region around the magnet where magnetic materials experience a force is called the magnetic field.
What are magnetic field lines?
Magnetic force field lines represent the force around a magnetic object showing the general shape of the force and indicating its strength and direction. The strength is directly proportional to the line’s closeness, while the direction is indicated by the arrowheads on the lines.
What the properties of magnetic field lines?
1.The spacing of the lines indicates the strength of the field The strength of the field is directly proportional to the closeness of the lines.
2. The arrows on the lines show the direction of the force. Magnetic field lines are drawn from the north pole to the south pole.
3. The magnetic field lines can never intersect each other.
How can we use iron filings to depict magnetic fields?
Iron filings are small iron flakes that become magnetized in a magnetic field, resembling paper clips. They line up to display the shape of the magnetic field, as we cannot see the field, only its effect on magnets or magnetic materials.
What is the neutral point of a magnet?
The neutral point is a point where there is no force on a magnet or magnetic material because two or more magnetic fields cancel out.
How can we use compasses to depict magnetic fields?
A plotting compass is a small compass that aligns its needle with the magnetic field of a bar magnet, allowing us to observe the shape of the field around the magnet. Drawing magnetic field lines shows the pattern around the magnet. While the lines are not the field itself, but rather they are the general shape.
