Induced Magnetism (Oxford AQA IGCSE Physics)

Revision Note

Induced Magnetism

  • An induced magnet is a material that becomes a magnet when it is placed in a magnetic field

  • Induced magnetism always causes a force of attraction

  • When removed from the magnetic field, the material will lose its induced magnetism quickly

Magnetic materials

  • Very few metals in the Periodic Table are magnetic

  • The magnetic metals are:

    • Iron

    • Cobalt

    • Nickel

  • Steel is an alloy which contains iron, so it is also magnetic

Magnetic materials

Magnetic Materials, for IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes
Magnetic materials are attracted to a magnet; non-magnetic materials are not
  • Magnetic materials (which are not magnets) will always be attracted to the magnet, regardless of which pole is held close to it

Magnets and magnetic materials

Magnetic Materials for IGCSE & GCSE Physics revision notes
Magnetic materials are attracted to both poles of a permanent magnet
  • Bringing a material close to a known magnet will determine if the material is magnetic, non-magnetic or if it is a magnet itself

    • It is a magnet if it is repelled by the known magnet

    • It is a magnetic material if it is attracted to the known magnet

    • It is a non-magnetic material if it is neither attracted nor repelled by the known magnet

Types of magnets

  • There are two types of magnets

    • Permanent magnets

    • Induced magnets

Permanent magnets

  • Permanent magnets are made out of permanent magnetic materials (materials that are always magnetic), for example, steel

  • A permanent magnet will produce its own magnetic field

    • It will not lose its magnetism

Induced magnets

  • When a magnetic material is placed in a magnetic field, the material is temporarily turned into a magnet

    • This is called induced magnetism

  • When magnetism is induced in a material:

    • One end of the material will become a north pole

    • The other end will become a south pole

  • Magnetic materials will always be attracted to a permanent magnet

Induced magnetism

When a magnetic material is positioned near the north pole of a magnet a south pole is formed temporarily at the side closest to the magnet and a north pole formed temporarily at the furthest side. A magnetic material that is held close to the south pole of a magnet a north pole is formed temporarily at the side closest to the magnet and a south pole formed temporarily at the furthest side.
Inducing magnetism in a magnetic material
  • In the image above:

    • The north pole of the permanent magnet induces a south pole in the magnetic material (at the end closest to the magnet)

    • The south pole of the permanent magnet induces a north pole in the magnetic material (at the end clostest to the magnet)

Worked Example

The diagram below shows a magnet held close to a piece of metal suspended by a light cotton thread. The piece of metal is attracted towards the magnet.

A piece of metal is suspended by a thread. One end of the unknown metal , labelled X is close to the south pole of a permanent magnet

Which of the following rows in the table gives the correct type of pole at X and the correct material of the suspended piece of metal?

Type of pole at X

Material of suspended piece of metal

A

North

Nickel

B

South

Nickel

C

North

Aluminium

D

South

Aluminium

Answer:  A

  • X must be a north pole

    • The piece of metal is being attracted towards the magnet

    • The law of magnetism states that opposite poles attract

  • The material of the suspended piece of metal is nickel

    • Nickel is a magnetic material (it will experience a force when it is placed in a magnetic field, in this case, it is attracted towards the magnet)

  • B is incorrect because X cannot be a south pole (and hence is a north pole)

    • If the pole at X is a south pole then the piece of metal would be repelled from the magnet because the law of magnetism states that like poles repel

  • C and D are incorrect because aluminium is not a magnetic material

    • A non-magnetic material would be unaffected by the magnetic field produced by the magnet

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