7.1.1

Magnetic Materials

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Magnetism

Magnetism describes the ability of magnets to attract (pull towards) and repel (push away) other magnets without touching them.

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Attraction

  • Magnets have a north pole (N) and south pole (S).
  • If two magnets are close enough to each other, then the south pole of one magnet will attract the north pole of the other magnet.
  • This is an example of a non-contact force.
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Repulsion

  • If one magnet is turned so that both south poles (or both north poles) are close together, then the magnets will repel each other.
  • Opposite poles on a magnet attract and like poles on a magnet repel. This is an example of a non-contact force.
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The poles of a magnet

  • A magnet's poles are where the magnetic forces are strongest.

Magnetic Materials

Iron, nickel and cobalt are the only pure metals that can be turned into a magnet. These metals are “magnetic materials”.

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Properties of magnetic materials

  • Magnetic materials, like iron, don’t always act as magnets.
  • For example, a normal piece of iron won’t attract (pull) or repel (push) another piece of iron.
  • But magnetic materials, like iron, are attracted to a magnet if they are close enough to the magnet.
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Properties of magnetic materials

  • Magnetic materials can be attracted by a magnet, but can’t be repelled by a magnet.
  • Only two magnets can repel each other.
  • Non-magnetic materials will never be attracted to magnets.
  • Permanent magnets are always magnetic, even when they are not near other magnets.
    • They produce their own magnetic field.

Induced Magnetism

A magnetic material will temporarily become a magnet when it is close to a permanent magnet. There is always an attractive force between an induced magnet (or magnetic material) and a permanent magnet.

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Induced magnetism

  • Induced magnets are magnetic materials that become magnets when they are in a magnetic field.
  • When moved away from the permanent magnet, the magnetic material will stop being a magnet.
  • This is called induced magnetism.
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Poles

  • The permanent magnet induces (creates) temporary poles in the magnetic material and these align so that the magnetic material is attracted to the permanent magnet.
  • If the north pole of the magnet is next to the magnetic material, then a south pole will be induced in the part of the material closest to the magnet.

Jump to other topics

1Energy

2Electricity

3Particle Model of Matter

4Atoms & Radiation

5Forces

6Waves

7Magnetism

8Astrophysics

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