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Magnetism and Electromagnetism
infoWhy this? This unit shows pupils how magnetic fields and electromagnets operate, explaining technologies such as motors, transformers and loudspeakers.
scheduleWhy now? It builds on prior learning in electricity and forces, bringing together current, fields and motion in a more sophisticated way.
neurologyYou need to know
- A magnetic field is the region around a magnet or current-carrying conductor where a magnetic force acts on magnetic materials or on other magnets.
- Magnetic field lines show the shape and direction of a magnetic field, and they point from the north pole to the south pole outside a magnet.
- The magnetic field is strongest where the field lines are closest together, such as near the poles of a bar magnet.
- Opposite magnetic poles attract each other, and like magnetic poles repel each other.
- A magnetic material is a material that is attracted to a magnet, such as iron, steel, nickel or cobalt.
- An induced magnet is a magnetic material that becomes magnetised when it is placed in a magnetic field.
- Induced magnetism usually causes attraction because the end of the magnetic material nearest the magnet becomes the opposite pole.
- The Earth has a magnetic field, so a magnetic compass needle lines up with this field and points roughly towards geographic north.
- A current flowing through a conductor produces a magnetic field around the conductor.
- The magnetic field around a straight current-carrying wire forms concentric circles centred on the wire.
- Reversing the direction of the current reverses the direction of the magnetic field around a current-carrying conductor.
- A solenoid is a coil of wire, and its magnetic field is similar in shape to the field around a bar magnet.
- The magnetic field inside a solenoid is strong and nearly uniform because the fields from each turn of wire add together.
- The strength of an electromagnet increases when the current increases, the number of turns of wire increases, or an iron core is added.
- An electromagnet is temporary because its magnetic field can be switched on and off by switching the current on and off.
- The motor effect occurs when a current-carrying conductor in a magnetic field experiences a force because the two magnetic fields interact.
- The force on a current-carrying conductor is greatest when the conductor is at 90 degrees to the magnetic field and is zero when it is parallel to the magnetic field.
- For a conductor at right angles to a magnetic field, the force is calculated using `F = BIL`, where `F` is force in newtons, `B` is magnetic flux density in tesla, `I` is current in amperes, and `L` is length in metres.
- The direction of the force on a current-carrying conductor is reversed if either the current direction or the magnetic field direction is reversed.
- An electric motor uses the motor effect to make a coil rotate in a magnetic field when current flows through it.
rocket_launchYou must be able to
- Plot the magnetic field around a bar magnet using a compass, marking the direction of the compass needle at several positions and joining the points to form field lines.
- Draw magnetic field patterns around bar magnets in different pole arrangements, showing arrows from north to south and closer lines where the field is stronger.
- Investigate how magnetic force varies with distance by changing the separation between two magnets, measuring force consistently, and identifying the pattern in the results.
- Draw the magnetic field around a straight current-carrying conductor as concentric circles, using the right-hand grip rule to show the direction of the field.
- Draw the magnetic field of a solenoid, showing a strong uniform field inside the coil and a north and south pole at opposite ends.
- Investigate electromagnet strength by changing one variable at a time, such as current, number of turns or core material, and measuring the effect on lifting force or paper clips picked up.
- Use Fleming’s left-hand rule by placing the first finger in the magnetic field direction, the second finger in the current direction, and the thumb in the force direction.
- Calculate the force on a current-carrying conductor using `F = BIL`, substituting values with correct units and rearranging the equation when required.
- Explain the operation of a simple electric motor by linking the current in the coil, the magnetic field, the forces on opposite sides of the coil, and the resulting rotation.
Revision Quiz
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