MAGNETS ELECTRICITY All magnets produce a magnetic field
- Slides: 5
MAGNETS & ELECTRICITY: • All magnets produce a magnetic field. • All magnets have a north and south pole. Magnetic poles are the strongest parts of a magnet. The north and south poles of magnets attract each other. The two south poles and the two north poles repel each other. • A magnetic field is the area around a magnet that attracts and repels objects. If you place an object inside the magnet’s field, it will be attracted to the magnet. You can see a magnetic field by sprinkling iron filings around a magnet. • The Earth also has a magnetic field – it is like a huge magnet. Compasses work because the needle inside the compass is a magnet. One side of the needle is the north pole and the other side of the needle is the south pole. The north pole of the needle is attracted to the North Pole and the south pole of a needle is attracted to the South Pole.
• The closer objects are to each other, the stronger the magnetic force. If you try to pull magnets apart it is very hard because the magnets are so close to each other. Once you get them a little bit apart, it is easier. What are some problems that can be solved with magnets? • Magnets can solve all kinds of every day problems. Holding objects to a refrigerator or whiteboard without leaving marks. Picking up small metal objects off the floor. If you are lost, a compass has a magnet that can tell you which direction is north. Magnets are also used to separate metal items from paper recycling. Some power cord use magnets to attach to the device they are charging.
Electricity and magnetism are the same thing. When electricity moves, it creates a magnetic field. If you spin a magnet, electricity will move. The Electric Magnet and Motor Magnets can also be created by using electricity. By wrapping a wire around an iron bar and running electricity through the wire, very strong magnets can be created. This is called electromagnetism. The magnetic field created by electromagnets can be used for lots of things. One of the most important is the electric motor.
