Magnetism and Electromagnetism Flashcards
(43 cards)
what metals can be magnetised?
iron, nickel, cobalt, steel
what is an induced magnet?
a magnet produced when a magnetic material is placed in a magnetic field
what is a magnetic field?
a region around a magnet where a magnetic material will experience a force
why are field lines forced closer together at the poles of a bar magnet?
the magnetic field is strongest here - highest flux density
what do the lines on magnetic field lines show?
direction of magnetic field - lines of magnetic flux
what is the unit of magnetic flux density?
tesla, T
what is magnetic flux density?
Strength of a magnet
what does the strength of a magnetic field depend on?
the distance from the magnet
what is the direction of a magnetic field at any point given by?
the direction of the force that would act on another north pole placed at that point
what is the direction of the magnetic field line from?
the north (seeking) pole to the south (seeking) pole
why does the earth have a magnetic field?
it has an iron core
where is the magnetic north pole on the earth?
at the geographical south pole
what happens when a current flows through a conductor?
a magnetic field is generated around it
what is a solenoid?
a coil of wire
what is the direction of field around a wire, with current flowing through it, shown by?
right hand grip rule
what is the symbol for current into page?
cross in a circle
what is the symbol for current out of page?
dot in a circle
what can the strength of an electromagnetic field be increased by?
- adding more turns on the coil
- increasing the current passing through it
- using an iron core
what are the advantages of electromagnets over normal magnets?
- variable strength
- can be turned on and off
- can reverse direction of magnetic field
how does an electric bell work using electromagnets?
- switch is closed to complete the circuit
- current flows through the solenoid
- solenoid becomes magnetic
- iron striker is attracted to the electromagnet and strikes the bell
- as striker moves towards the bell, the contact is broken
- current stops flowing through the coil, which loses its magnetism
- the spring returns the striker to its original position
- circuit complete so current flows again
- the bell will continue to ring as long as the switch is held closed
how does an relay switch work using electromagnets?
- relay contains 2 separate circuits: a low voltage one containing an electromagnet which is safe to be switched on and off and a high voltage one where the switch has been replaced with 2 metal contacts, one of which is connected to a spring which keeps the contacts apart and an iron block next to the spring
- low voltage circuit is switched on
- a current now flows around the circuit
- there is now a magnetic field around the electromagnet
- the magnetic field around the electromagnet attracts the iron block in the high voltage circuit, causing the contacts to close, switching on the high voltage circuit
what happens if a wire carries a current at right angles to a magnetic field?
it experiences a force
what does the size of the force produced by a wire carrying a current at right angles to a magnetic field depend on?
how the field and wire are angled:
- the force is greatest when the field direction and wire are at right angles
- the force is 0 when the direction of the field and wire are parallel
what are the parts of Fleming’s Left Hand Rule?
- thumb = motion or direction of force
- First Finger = magnetic field direction
- seCond finger = direction of current