Section 11 - Magnetic Fields Flashcards
What is a magnetic field?
A region where a force is exerted on magnetic materials.
How can magnetic fields be represented?
Using field lines.
What is another name for magnetic field lines?
Flux lines
Which direction do magnetic field lines go?
North to south pole of a magnet (OUTSIDE of it).
How is the strength of a magnetic field represented using field lines?
The closer together the lines, the stronger the field.
What is a neutral point in magnetic fields?
Where magnetic fields cancel out, so there are no field lines.
What happens when a current passes through a wire?
A magnetic field is induced around the wire.
Describe the magnetic field induced around a current-carrying wire.
Concentric circles centred around the wire
What rule is used to work out the direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire and how does it work?
• Right-hand grip rule
How it works:
• Thumb = Current (conventional)
• Fingers = Magnetic field
What happens to the shape of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire when it is looped into a single coil?
Doughnut-shaped
See diagram pg 140 of revision guide
What happens to the shape of the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire when it is looped into a solenoid?
Like a bar magnet.
See diagram pg 140 of revision guide
What is the rule for working out the direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying solenoid?
The right-hand rule, except the thumb and fingers are reversed.
What happens when you place a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field and why?
- The field around the wire and the magnetic field are added together
- This causes a resultant field so there is a force exerted on the wire
What rule is used to work out the direction of the force exerted on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field and how does it work?
• Fleming’s Left-Hand Rule How it works: • Thumb = Force • First finger = Magnetic field • Second finger = Current (conventional)
What things is it important to remember when using Fleming’s left-hand rule?
- Magnetic field goes from north to south
* Current is conventional, so it goes from positive to negative terminals
When a current-carrying wire is in a magnetic field, what happens if the current is parallel to the field lines?
There is no force exerted.
What is magnetic flux density?
- The force on 1m of site carrying a current of 1A right angles to the magnetic field.
- i.e. It is the magnetic field strength
In magnetic fields, what is B?
Magnetic flux density (a.k.a. Magnetic field strength)
What are the units for magnetic field density?
Tesla (T)
What is magnetic flux?
The number of field lines passing through an area.
In magnetic fields, what is φ?
Magnetic flux
What are the units for magnetic flux?
Wb
Is magnetic flux density scalar or vector?
Vector
Describe a experiment to investigate the effect of current on the force exerted on a current-carrying wire in a magnetic field.
1) Set up a top pan balance with a square loop of wire fixed to it, so that it is standing up and that the top of the loop passes through a magnetic field, perpendicular to it.
2) Connect the wire in a circuit with a variable resistor, ammeter and dc power supply. Zero the top pan balance when no current is flowing.
3) Vary the current using the variable resistor. At each current value, record the current and mass. Repeat 3 times at each current value and average.
4) Convert into force using F = mg.
5) Plot a graph of force F against current I. Draw a line of best fit.
6) Since F = BIl, the gradient of the rain is equal to B x l.
7) Alternatively, you could vary “l” by varying the length of wire that is perpendicular to the field or vary “B” by changing the strength of the magnets.
(See diagram pg 141 of revision guide)