1.0 MAGNETISM
1.1 Introduction:
- Magnetism is the force that a magnetic object exerts, through its magnetic field, on another
object. The two objects do not have to physically touch each other for the force to be exerted.
Object 2 feels the magnetic force from Object 1 because of Object 1’s surrounding magnetic
field.
- Humans have known about magnetism for many thousands of years. For example, lodestone is
a magnetized form of the iron oxide mineral magnetite. It has the property of attracting iron
objects.
- The root of the English word magnet is from the Greek word magnes, probably
from Magnesia in Asia Minor, once an important source of lodestone.
1.2 MAGNETS
A
magnet is a substance which can identify North-south directions. The substance
has north-south pole.
Types
of Magnets.
1.
Bar magnets.
2.
Horseshoe magnets.
3. Compass
needle.
The end
pointing North is North seeking pole.
The end
pointing South is South seeking pole.
PROPERTIES OF MAGNETS.
1. They can attract metals like iron, steel, cobalt and nickel.
2. The attractive forces are concentrated at the two ends.
3. When similar magnetic poles are brought near each other, they
repel.
4. When different magnetic poles are brought near each other, they
attract.
1.3 THE
FUNDAMENTAL LAW OF MAGNETISM.
- Like magnetic poles repel
and unlike magnetic poles attract.
- This means that two N poles or two S poles will push away from each other while a N pole and a S pole will be drawn towards each other.
1.4 MAGNETIC AND NON-MAGNETIC
MATERIALS.
The materials/substances which can be attracted towards magnets
are called MAGNETIC SUBSTANCES. The materials are themselves not magnets
because they don’t attract each other e.g. iron, steel, cobalt, and nickel.
The materials which can’t be attracted towards a magnet are
NON-MAGNETIC MATERIALS. E.g. wood, plastic, glass, zinc, carbon and rubber.
1.5 MAGNETIZATION.
Is the
process of changing a magnetic material like steel, iron, cobalt to a magnet.
There are 3
main methods:
1. STROKING
METHOD.
Stroke the piece of steel with the north pole. Start at end A of the
magnet and lift the magnet clear at end B of each stroke. Do this about 10
times in the same direction. Finally end A is magnetized. For double touch, use
two opposite poles to stroke at the same time.
a. Double touch 
In this case the steel bar will be magnetized
with south pole at A and north pole at B.
2.
INDUCTION METHOD.
A magnetic material is
magnetized by bringing it into contact with a magnet.
Disadvantages:
1.
Produces weak magnets not strong magnets.
2.
Tend to loose magnetism very fast as soon as they are separated
from the magnets.
3.
ELECTRICAL METHOD.
Wind about 1 metre of
insulated copper wire around a large nail AB, then connect the ends of the wire
to the battery.
These magnets are called electromagnets.

ELECTROMAGNETS.
These are used in making
devices such as electric bells, relay doors etc.
1.6 DEMAGNETIZATION
Demagnetization is the process of removing magnetism from a material.
Methods of demagnetization
1.
HAMMERING AND HEATING.
Place the magnet in
East-West direction then heat it up and hammer it for some time.
2.
ALTERNATING CURRENT METHOD.
Coil a wire round the
magnet and then connect the two ends of the wire to the two terminals of the
battery. Then the connections to the battery terminal are quickly interchanged
continuously for several minutes.
1.7 THE DOMAIN THEORY OF MAGNETISM
- The small portions of a magnetic material which behave like a
magnet. These small portions are called DOMAINS. For a magnetic material, domains
have North and south magnetic poles aligning in different directions.
- For this material to be magnetized, its domains have to be
aligned in such a way that their North poles face one common direction and
south poles face another common direction.
- Magnetic field: The
region around a magnet where it has a magnetic effect.
- In any magnet there are
several invisible lines that extend from north to south pole through the
outside of the magnet and then move back to the north pole through the inside
of the magnet forming closed loops. These imaginary lines are called magnetic
lines of force which form magnetic field of a magnet.
- NB – When two similar
poles are placed close to each other, there is a point somewhere between them
at which the magnetic field lines do not pass. This point is called neutral
point. OR When a pair of S-poles are kept close to each other.
- NB – A neutral point
occurs because the magnetic lines of forces from similar poles do not join each
other but repel and avoid each other.
- A neutral point can’t
form between two unlike poles because the magnetic field lines from one pole
join the lines from the other pole.
1.8 THE EARTH’S
MAGNETISM.
- The earth has a magnetic
field that extends from deep below earth’s surface to the sky. The magnetic north
pole of the earth corresponds to real magnetic south pole and the magnetic
south pole corresponds to real north pole.
-The vertical plane
containing the axis of a freely suspended magnet at rest under action of
earth’s field at any place is magnetic meridian.
-The vertical plane
containing the earth’s axis of rotation at any place is called Geographic
meridian.
-The angle between
direction of alignment of the magnet and the geographic axis is magnetic
declination.
-The horizontal direction
in the magnetic meridian is magnetic dip-angle of dip.
1.9 APPLICATION
OF EARTH’S MAGNETIC FIELD.
1.
The map readers use earth’s magnetic field to find locations of
places.
2.
Map readers with a compass can locate north pole using the
compass.
3.
It is used to detect minerals or rocks magnetized by earth’s
field during solidification.
4.
Used to fix satellites with magnetometers to transmit the
information about earth’s field high above earth’s surface.
1.9.1 USES OF
MAGNETS.
1.
Magnetic recording media-tapes and cassettes.
2.
Making credit cards – ATM cards.
3.
Making speakers and microphones.
4.
In computers and televisions. – floppy and hard disks.
5.
In transformers.
6.
In electric motors.
7.
In generators.
8.
Used in hospitals when dealing with injuries caused by iron or
steel.
9.
Used in steel works.
Comprehensive Physics notes prepared by Peter Lam Thuol