Nature of Magnetism

Magnetism
Properties of magnets
◼ If
a material is magnetic, it has the ability to
exert forces on magnets or other magnetic
materials nearby.
◼A permanent magnet is a material that keeps
its magnetic properties.
Properties of Magnets
◼ All
magnets have two
opposite magnetic
poles, called the north
pole and south pole.
◼ Ifa magnet is cut in

half, each half will
have its own north and
south poles.
Properties of magnets
◼ Whether
the two magnets attract or repel
depends on which poles face each other.
Magnetic force
◼ Magnetic forces can pass through many
materials with no apparent decrease in
strength.
Magnetic force
◼ Magnetic forces are used
in many applications
because they are
relatively easy to create
and can be very strong.
◼ Large magnets, such as

this electromagnet,
create forces strong
enough to lift a car or a
moving train.
The magnetic field
◼ Allmagnets create a
magnetic field in the
space around them,
and the magnetic
field creates forces on
other magnets.
The magnetic field
◼ The number of field lines in a
certain area indicates the
relative strength of the
magnetic field in that area.
◼ The arrows on the field lines
indicate the direction of the
force.
◼ The closer the lines are
together, the stronger the field.
◼ Magnetic field lines always
point away from a magnet’s
north pole and toward its south
pole.
Magnetic fields
◼ Magnets A and C feel a
net attracting force
toward the source
magnet.
◼ Magnets B and D feel a

twisting force, or torque,
because one pole is
repelled and the
opposite pole is
attracted with
approximately the same
Magnetic fields
◼ The force from a magnet
gets weaker as it gets
farther away.
◼ Separating a pair of
magnets by twice the
distance reduces the
force by 8 times or more.
Magnetic fields
◼ You can actually see the

pattern of the magnetic
field lines by sprinkling
magnetic iron filings on
cardboard with a
magnet underneath.
Magnetism in materials
◼ All atoms have electrons, so you might think that all

materials should be magnetic, but there is great
variability in the magnetic properties of materials.
◼ The electrons in some atoms align to cancel out one

another’s magnetic influence.
◼ While all materials show some kind of magnetic

effect, the magnetism in most materials is too weak
to detect without highly sensitive instruments.
◼ Atoms act like tiny
magnets with north and
south poles.
When permanent
magnets have their
atoms aligned, we
observe the magnetic
forces.
Ferromagnetic materials
◼A small group of ferromagnetic metals have
very strong magnetic properties.
◼ Examples of ferromagnetic materials are iron,

nickel, and cobalt.
◼ Atoms in ferromagnetic materials align

themselves with neighboring atoms in groups
called magnetic domains.
Magnetic properties of materials
◼ Magnetic domains in a ferromagnetic material will
always orient themselves to attract a permanent
magnet.
— If a north pole approaches, domains grow by
adding neighboring atoms that have south poles
facing out.
— If a south pole approaches, domains grow that
have north poles facing out.
◼ Inmany materials, the magnetic fields of
individual electrons in each atom cancel
each others magnetic effects.
◼ Lead and diamond are materials made of

these kinds of atoms and are called
diamagnetic.
◼ Ittakes either a very strong magnetic field

to cause the effects or very sensitive
instruments to detect them.
◼ Aluminum is paramagnetic.
◼ In an atom of aluminum, the
magnetism of individual
electrons do not cancel
completely.
◼ This makes each aluminum
atom a tiny magnet with a
north and a south pole.
◼ Solid aluminum is
“nonmagnetic” because
the total magnetic field
averages to zero.
Nonmagnetic materials
◼ The atoms in non-

magnetic materials,
like plastic, are not
free to move or
change their
magnetic orientation.
Magnetism in solids
◼ If you use the north end of
the magnet to pick up a
nail, the nail becomes
magnetized with its south
pole toward the magnet.
◼ Because the nail itself
becomes a magnet, it
can be used to pick up
other nails.
◼ If you separate that first
nail from the bar magnet,
the entire chain
demagnetizes and falls
apart.
Magnetism in solids
◼ Permanent magnetism only exists in solids.
◼ Permanent magnets and ferromagnetic

materials become demagnetized if the
temperature gets too hot.
◼ Eventhe best magnetic materials are only

able to retain their magnetism only up to a
few hundred degrees Celsius.
Unit 2: FORCES and ENERGY
MODULE 2: Magnetism
◼2.1 Properties of Magnets
◼2.2 The Source of Magnetism
◼2.3 Earth's Magnetic Field

The Magnetic Field of the Earth
◼ Asearly as 500 B.C. people
discovered that some
naturally occurring materials—
such as lodestone and
magnetite—have magnetic
properties.
◼ By1200, explorers from Italy

were using a compass to
guide ocean voyages beyond
the sight of land.
Magnetite ◼ Magnetite, a magnetic
mineral made of iron
oxide, has been found
in bacteria and in the
brains of birds.
◼ Tinycrystals of
magnetite may act like
compasses and allow
these organisms to
sense the magnetic
field of Earth.
The source of Earth’s magnetism
◼ The planet Earth

has a magnetic
field that comes
from the core of
the planet itself.
Earth as a magnet
◼ When you use a compass,
the north-pointing end of the
needle points toward a spot
near (but not exactly at) the
Earth’s geographic north
pole.
◼ The Earth’s magnetic poles
are defined by the planet’s
magnetic field.
◼ That means the south
magnetic pole of the planet is
near the north geographic
◼ Studiesof earthquake
waves reveal that the
Earth’s core is made of
hot, dense molten
metals.
◼ Huge electric currents
flowing in the molten
iron produce the Earth’s
magnetic field.
◼ Thegauss is a unit used to measure the
strength of a magnetic field.
◼ Themagnetic field of Earth (.5 G) is weak
compared to the field near the ceramic
magnets you have in your classroom. (300-
1,000 G).
◼ Forthis reason you cannot trust a compass to
point north if any other magnets are close
by.
Earth’s magnetic trend
◼ Today, Earth’s
magnetic field is losing
approximately 7% of its
strength every 100
years.
◼ Ifthis trend continues,
the magnetic poles will
reverse sometime in the
next 2,000 years.
Magnetism in stars and planets
◼ Like
Earth, other planets in the solar system also
have magnetic fields.
◼ Inthe case of Jupiter, the magnetic field is very

strong compared to Earth’s and was mapped
by the Cassini spacecraft.
Magnetism in stars and planets
◼ Even stars have magnetic
fields.
◼ The Sun’s uneven rotation
twists its magnetic field lines.
Every so often, the magnetic
field lines become so twisted
they “snap” and reconnect
themselves.
◼ This
sudden change causes
huge solar storms where great
eruptions of hot gas flare up
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
◼ MRI is a powerful diagnostic

technology. An MRI scanner
makes a three-dimensional
map of the inside of the body.
◼ As the name implies, MRI

technology uses magnets and
resonance to create images.

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Nature of Magnetism

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Magnetism

◼ Ifa magnet is cut in

◼ Large magnets, such as

◼ Magnets B and D feel a

◼ You can actually see the

◼ All atoms have electrons, so you might think that all

◼ The electrons in some atoms align to cancel out one

◼ While all materials show some kind of magnetic

◼ Examples of ferromagnetic materials are iron,

◼ Atoms in ferromagnetic materials align

◼ Lead and diamond are materials made of

◼ Ittakes either a very strong magnetic field

◼ The atoms in non-

◼ Permanent magnets and ferromagnetic

◼ Eventhe best magnetic materials are only

◼2.1 Properties of Magnets

◼2.2 The Source of Magnetism

◼2.3 Earth's Magnetic Field

◼ By1200, explorers from Italy

◼ The planet Earth

◼ Inthe case of Jupiter, the magnetic field is very

◼ MRI is a powerful diagnostic

◼ As the name implies, MRI

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