1.

1 Introduction to Magnetism (Revision)

Posted by Electromagnetism | 7:32 AM | magnetic field, Magnetism | 6 comments »
You should have learned magnetism in form 3. In form 3, you learned that:
1. A magnet can attract certain type of metal.
2. The metals that can be attracted by a magnet are called the “magnetic materials” of
“ferromagnetic materials”. Examples of magnetic materials are iron, steel, nickel and
cobalt.
We also learned that a magnet has 2 poles-the North Pole and the South Pole. There is a
magnetic field surrounding the magnet. A magnetic field is a region in the surrounding of a
magnet which a magnetic material experiences a detectable force.

Magnetic Field Line

The magnetic filed of a magnet is represented by the magnetic field line. The magnetic field line
flowing out from the North pole and flowing into the South pole.

The distance between the field

lines represent the strength of the field, the closer the field line, the stronger the field. In the
diagram, the magnetic field A is stronger than magnetic field B because the line in magnetic field
A is closer.

Compass in a magnetic Field

The pattern and the direction of a magnetic field can be determined by a compass. The pointer of
the compass is always in the direction of the magnetic field. In figure (b) above, we can see that
when a few compasses are put near to a bar magnet, the pointer of the compasses are all in the
direction of the magnetic field.

If a compass is placed near to a current carrying wire, the pointer of the compass will point along
the direction of the magnetic field generated by the current. This will discuss in
electromagnetism.

Exercises
Which of the following is not a ferromagnetic material?
Top of Form

A. Cobalt
B. steel
C. Aluminum
D. Nickel
Bottom of Form

2.1What is Electromagnetism
Posted by Electromagnetism | 7:40 AM | electromagnet | 0 comments »
When current passes through a conductor, magnetic field will be generated
around the conductor and the conductor become a magnet. This
phenomenon is called electromagnetism. Since the magnet is produced
electric current, it is called the electromagnet.

An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is

produced by a flow of electric current. The magnetic field disappears when
the current ceases.

In short, when current flow through a conductor, magnetic field will be

generated. When the current ceases, the magnetic field disappear
Exercise
1. Which of the following materials is most likely to be used as the coil of an electromagnet?
Top of Form

A. Copper
B. Steel
C. Iron
 D. Silver
Submit Answ er

Bottom of Form

2. Which of the following materials is most likely to be used as the core of an electromagnet?
Top of Form

A. Copper
B. Steel
C. Iron
D. Silver
Submit Answ er

Bottom of Form

3. An electromagnet is a type of magnet in which the magnetic field is produced by a flow of

electric current. The magnetic field disappears when the current ceases.
Top of Form

True
False
Bottom of Form

2.2 Magnetics Effects of a Current Carrying Conductor -

Straight Wire
Posted by Electromagnetism | 8:12 PM | 1 comments »
Magnetic Field Pattern
 [Figure (a)]

The magnetic field forms by straight wire are concentric circles around the wire as shown in
figure (a) above. Take notes that when the direction of the current is inversed, the direction of the
magnetic field line is also inversed.

The direction of the magnetic field line can be determined by the Maxwell's Screw Rule or the
Right Hand Grip Rule.

[Figure (a)]

Sometime, the magnetic field pattern may be given in plan view, as shown in figure (b). In plan
view, a dot in the wire shows the current coming out from the plane whereas a cross in the wire
shows the current moving into the plane.

Direction of the Magnetic Field

The direction of the magnetic field formed by a current carrying straight wire can be determined
by the Right Hand Grip Rule or the Maxwell Screw Rule.

Right Hand Grip Rule

Grip the wire with the right hand, with the thumb pointing along the direction of the current. The
other fingers give the direction of the magnetic field around the wire. This is illustrated in

[Figure (c)]

The Maxwell's Screw Rules

The Maxwell Screw Rules sometime is also called the Maxwell's Corkscrew Rule. Imagine a
right handed screw being turn so that it bores its way in the direction of the current in the wire.
The direction of rotation gives the direction of the magnetic field.

Strength of the Magnetic Field

The strength of the magnetic field form by a current carrying conductor depends on the
magnitude of the current. A stronger current will produce a stronger magnetic field around the
wire as shown in Figure (e) below.
 The strength of the field decreases
out as you move further out. This is illustrated in figure (f) below. Thus, you must be very
careful when you are asked the draw the magnetic field in your exam. The distance of the field
lines must increase as it is further out form the wire.

2.3 Magnetic Effects of a Current-Carrying Conductor -

Coil
Posted by Electromagnetism | 8:13 PM | coil | 1 comments »
Field Pattern
Figure (a) below shows the field pattern produced by a current flowing in a circular coil. In SPM,
you need to know the field pattern, the direction of the field and the factors affect the strength of
the field.

The direction of the field can be determined by the Right Hand Grip Rule. Grip the wire at one
side of the coil with your right hand, with thumb pointing along the direction of the current. Your
other fingers will be pointing in the direction of the field.
 [Figure (a)]

Figure (b) shows the plan view of the field pattern.

Factors affecting the strength

There are 2 ways to increase the strength of the magnetic field:
1. increase the current and
2. increase the number of turns of the coil

Magnetic Effects of a Current-Carrying Conductor -

Solenoid
Posted by Electromagnetism | 8:14 PM | solenoid | 0 comments »
A solenoid is a long coil made up of a numbers of turns of wire.

Magnetic Field Pattern

The figure (a) illustrated the field pattern produced by a solenoid when current pass through it.
The field lines in the solenoid are close to each other, showing that the magnetic field is stronger
inside the solenoid. We can also see that the field lines are parallel inside the solenoid. This
shows that the strength of the magnetic filed is about uniform inside the solenoid.

We can also see that the magnetic field of a solenoid resembles that of the long bar magnet, and
it behaves as if it has a North Pole at one end and a South Pole at the other.

[Figure (a)]

Determining the Pole of the Magnetic Field

The pole of the magnetic field of a solenoid can be determined by the Right Hand Grip Rule.
Imagine your right-hand gripping the coil of the solenoid such that your fingers point the same
way as the current. Your thumb then points in the direction of the field. Since the magnetic field
line is always coming out from the North Pole, therefore the thumb points towards the North
Pole.

[Figure (b)]

There is another method can be used to determine the pole of the magnetic field forms by the
solenoid.

Try to visualise that you are viewing the solenoid from the 2 ends as illustrated in figure (c)
below. The end will be a North pole if the current is flowing in the aNticlockwise, or a South
pole if the current is flowing in the clockwiSe direction.
 Strength of the Magnetic
Field
The strength of the magnetic field can be increased by
1. Increasing the current,
2. Increasing the number of turns per unit length of the solenoid,
3. Using a soft-iron core within the solenoid.

Physics Animation
Applet
Compass in a Solenoid

Exercises

The diagram above shows the apparatus set-up to investigate

the factors affect the strength of an electromagnet. When the switch is closed, the pin are
attracted to the soft iron rod. The number of pins attracted to the soft iron rod can be increased by
Top of Form

A Increasing the current in the circuit

B Increasing the resistance in the rheostat
C Deceasing the number of turns in the solenoid
D Replacing the battery with alternating current
Bottom of Form