Magnetism Flashcards
What does a magnet have around it?
a magnetic field
How can a magnetic field be created around a wire?
Pass a current through it
What is a magnetically hard material?
Steel - retains its magnetism once magnetised
What is a magnetically soft material?
Iron - loses its magnetism easily and is therefore a useful temporary magnet
How can magnetism be induced in a magnetic material?
leave it in a magnetic field
What is a magnetic field?
The volume of space around a magnet where magnetism can be detected
How can we show the shape of a magnetic field?
Using iron fillings or compasses which will align with the direction of the magnetic field
What happens when two magnets are placed near each other?
Their magnetic fields affect each other
What is electromagnetism?
A phenomenon where a magnetic field is created around a wire that has current passing through it
What is the shape of the field around a current carrying wire?
Circular
How can you increase the strength of a magnetic field around a current carrying wire?
increase the current in the wire
wrap the wire into a coil or a solenoid (a long coil)
What happens when the direction of current flowing through a solenoid is reversed?
Its poles are also reversed
How can you increase the strength of a field around a solenoid?
increase the current flowing through
increase the number of turns of the solenoid
wrap the solenoid around a magnetically soft core such as iron
What is an electromagnet?
the combination of soft iron core and solenoid
How does an electric bell work?
Bell push pressed; circuit complete and current flows
Soft core of electromagnet is magnetised and attracts the iron armature
Armature moves so hammer strikes bell
Gap created at contact screw
Circuit incomplete and current stops flowing
Electromagnet turned off so spring’s armature returns to original position
How does a circuit breaker work?
If current is too high the electromagnet is strong enough to pull the iron catch out of position so that the contacts open
Circuit breaks
But can be reset with reset button
What is the purpose of a relay switch?
In circuits with a large current there is a danger of receiving a large electric shock.
A relay switch uses a small current in one circuit to turn on a second that may have a much large current
How does a relay switch work?
Switch of small circuit closed so current flows
As current passes through coil C the iron core is magnetised and attracts the iron armature
The armature is pivoted so its lower end pushes the contacts of the second circuit together
Now the second circuit is complete and current flows.
How does a relay switch turn off the second circuit?
If switch S is opened the electromagnet is turned off
Iron armature moves back to its original position and contacts spring apart
Circuit off b/c current can no longer flow
What happens to a charged particle moving in a magnetic field?
It experiences a force
When will a charged particle moving in a magnetic field not experience a force?
If its motion is not parallel to the field
How to make a wire move?
Pass a current through a wire held at right angles to the mag.field of a magnet.
Why does a current carrying wire in a field experience a force?
The two magnetic field lines interact around the wire and the magnet.
In certain places, the fields are in the same direction and so reinforce each other giving a strong magnetic field.
Where the fields are in opposite directions weaker fields are produced.
The wire experiences a force pushing it from the strong to the weak field. MOTOR EFFECT
How can a stronger force be produced to move the wire?
stronger mag.field
increased current