What Is a Magnet? There are several different types of a magnets, some are natural of others are man made Magnets found in nature were first called load stones and were used as compass, many natural magnets are made up of iron, nickel, and cobalt Magnets can also be man made by using electricity, these magnets are called electromagnets

Parts of a Magnet All magnets have two parts –North-seeking pole (north pole) –South-seeking pole (south pole) Magnetism were first used as compasses because one end always moves to point north, while the other end moved to point south Because every magnet has these two poles magnets are called DIPOLE (Di = two, poles=poles) Even if a magnet is broken in two or more pieces each piece will have two poles

How Magnets Work Every magnets works by generating what is called a MAGNETIC FIELD. This field is how a magnets created of magnetic force. When the field reaches an object made with iron, nickel, or cobalt it creates a magnetic force pulling the metal to the magnet. If the field from the one pole of a magnetic meets with the field from an opposite pole of a magnet the poles attract. If the field from the one pole of a magnetic meets with the field from a same pole of a magnet the poles repeal. Opposites attract, likes repeal.

What the Magnetic Field Looks Like? SN Two Poles means a Dipole, all magnets are dipoles

The Field Between Two Poles SNNNSS

What Makes a Magnetic Field? Magnetic fields are made when charges (protons, electrons) move. Magnetism means motion, charges have to move to create a magnetic field and force.

What Makes a Magnetic Field Cont. All materials are made up of atoms. In these atoms electrons move around the nuclei of the atoms. –It is this motion that creates small magnetic fields. Everything that is made up of atoms creates small magnetic fields.

Making a Magnet Takes Organization. Every atom makes it’s own magnetic field. For non-magnets these fields points in all directions, canceling each other out so that there is not net field. In magnets most of these fields point in the same direction, creating a strong net magnetic field. Non-magnet Magnet Magnetic Domains are clusters of atoms the have their magnetic field pointing in the same direction

Electrical Currents and Magnetic Fields Magnetic fields are made when charges move. Electrical current is the movement of charges. Therefore magnetic fields are made by electrical current. –The more current you have, the stronger the magnetic field is.

What the Field Looks Like for a Wire With Current. The magnetic field wraps around a wire that has an electrical current moving through it If the wire is wrapped in many loops strong electromagnets can be made.

Magnetic Forces on a Wire Current Magnetic Field Magnetic force

The Right Hand Rule Thumb = current Palm = Force Fingers = field Memory trick: The field has many lines, like you have many fingers You get slapped (feel a force) which the palm of the hand If a person needs to go we use the thumb