Magnetic Materials
Physics: Cambridge International GCSE Supplement, topic 4.1.3
Magnetic Materials
Iron, nickel and cobalt are the only pure metals that can be turned into a magnet. These metals are “magnetic materials”.
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.
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.
Iron and Steel - Magnetic Properties
Iron and steel are both magnetic materials.
Iron
- Iron is said to be magnetically soft.
- This means that iron can be magnetised (made into a magnet) but it loses its magnetism as soon as it is removed from the field.
Steel
- Steel is said to be magnetically hard.
- This means that once steel has been magnetised (made into a magnet), it keeps its magnetism after it is removed from the field.
Test yourself on Magnetic Materials
Which of these is not a magnetic material?
Which of the following are true?
Name the four well known metals that are magnetic materials
How can you tell if an object is a magnet?
Iron is said to be...