Iron filings are very small pieces of iron that become magnetized when they

are in a magnetic field. They line up around a magnet and can show us the
shape of the magnetic field. We cannot see the magnetic field, only the effect
of the field on magnetic materials.

each other. attracting each other.

Point X is called the neutral point. At this point the magnetic fields of
the twomagnets cancel out.
A plotting compass is a very small compass. If you put it near a bar magnet,
its needle will line up with the magnetic field of the magnet, rather than the
Earth’s magnetic field. You can use a plotting compass to see the shape of
the field around a bar magnet

A region where magnetic materials experience a forceis called a magnetic field. You
can find the shape of a magnetic field using iron filings or plotting compasses.
 Electromagnets
An electromagnet is a coil of wire (solenoid) usually wrapped aroundan iron
core.
A current flowing through a wire produces a magnetic field.

current

You can switch an electromagnet on and off by turning the current on and off. The
electric current produces a magnetic field. The magnetic field around an
electromagnet is likethat around a bar magnet.

coil of insulated wire iron nail

N
S current
switch

The nail forms the core of the electromagnet. Most cores are made of iron because
it is magnet soft material. Coiling the wire concentrates the magnetic field inside
the loops. The field is much stronger than that of a single loop.
 The electric bell Magnetism
Some doorbells contain an electromagnet. When a visitor presses bell-switch
the switch, the circuit is complete.
clamp spring y
● A current pass through the coil and the iron core is meta l
iron core
magnetized. strip
● The iron armature is attracted to the core and the hammer hits iron
the gong, making a sound. armature
coil
● This breaks the circuit at X so the iron core is no longer
magnetized. X contact
screw
● The armature springs back and completes the circuit.
hammer
● The sequence starts again so the bell keeps ringing for as long gong
as the visitor presses the bell.
Unlike in the relay, the armature moves backwards and forwards
while the switch is pressed.
Magnetism

Why are some materials magnetic?

Magnetic materials get attracted to a magnet, but it will not be
repelled by it. Magnetic materials do not attract or repel each
other. domains line up

Only two magnets can repel each other, so the way to tell whether an
object is a magnet is to see if it is repelled by another magnet.
Magnetic materials are made up of lots of very small regions called
domains. Each domain behaves like a tiny bar magnet.
When a magnetic material is not magnetized, the domains are point
in lots of different directions. When magnetized the domains line up domains do not line up
in one direction.

Magnetizing and demagnetizing

Iron and steel are magnetized by being close to a magnet. Iron iron nails steel pins
is easy to magnetize, you can pick up iron nails with a magnet,
but if you remove the magnet and hold them up, they are no magnet
magnet
removed
longer magnetized so they fall. .
removed
.
Steel is harder to magnetize, but it stays magnetized when you
remove the magnet. Steel pins or paperclips stay magnetized.
A magnet can be made from a piece of magnetic material, such
as a steel needle, by stroking the needle with a magnet
repeatedly in the same direction.
A piece of iron or steel that has been magnetized is a
permanent magnet. Magnets can be demagnetized by
1. Strongly heating it up
2. hitting it with a hammer.
 Uses of electromagnets.
The diagrams below show how electromagnets are used in various devices. Try to
complete the missing words in the passages underneath each one.

push switch

chain electric cable

clamp
coil
springy metal strip
electromagnet
iron arm

electromagnet
contacts
gong
hammer scrap iron and steel

An electric bell. Sorting scrap metal.

When the push switch is closed the In a scrap yard electromagnets can be
current flows through the _ _ _ _ The used to separate iron and _ _ _ _ _
electromagnet then attracts the iron objects from other materials. A thick
_ _ _ The hammer moves and strikes _ _ _ _ _ supplies electricity to the
the _ _ _ _ As this happens the magnet. The electricity is switched
contacts separate and the circuit is on to pick the metals up and then
broken. The electromagnet is switched switched _ _ _ to put them down.
_ _ _ and the hammer springs back.

iron lever

switch contacts
electromagnet

electric motor

INPUT CIRCUIT RELAY OUTPUT CIRCUIT

Electromagnetic switches – RELAYS.

Sometimes it is dangerous to switch on a circuit directly. For example, a car starting
motor needs a current of over 100 amps. An electromagnetic switch called a _ _ _ _ _
can be used to switch the circuit on safely. When the switch in the _ _ _ _ _ circuit
is closed the magnet is switched on. This pulls the iron _ _ _ _ _ towards it and the
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ are closed. The motor in the _ _ _ _ _ _ circuit is now switched on.
 solenoid

magnetic iron bar

field lines

N S

When the current is switched off the iron bar loses its magnetism. If a
steel bar is put into the solenoid it stays a permanent magnet after the
current is switched off.

Exercise – Complete the sentences below.

1) If a wire carries an electric current it produces a magnetic _ _ _ _ _

2) If the current is increased the magnetic field gets _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

3) A coil of wire is called a _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _

4) The _ _ _ _ turns of wire on the coil the stronger the magnetic field.

5) An iron bar inside a solenoid makes an _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _