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4.1Electricity and Magnetism

Simple Phenomena OF Magnetism — Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Revision Notes & Topical Questions

15 min read 21 parts Lesson 1 of 65 1 quiz

📚 Cambridge IGCSE Physics 0625 Hub / Topical Revision
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Lesson summary

4.1 Simple Phenomena of Magnetism — IGCSE PHYSICS notes: Describe magnetic poles, magnetic materials, induced magnetism and magnetic fields and how to plot them.Poles — the ends of a magnet are a north pole and a south pole, where the force is strongestLike poles — repel each oth…

  • Unlike poles
  • Non-contact force
  • Magnetic metals
  • Attraction
  • Permanent magnet
  • Induced (temporary) magnet

Part 1 of 7Poles and forces

Poles
  • Poles the ends of a magnet are a north pole and a south pole, where the force is strongest
Like poles
  • Like poles repel each other
Unlike poles
  • Unlike poles attract each other
Non-contact force
  • Non-contact force attraction or repulsion between poles acts without touching

Part 2 of 7Magnetic materials

Magnetic metals
  • Magnetic metals iron, cobalt and nickel, and steel because it contains iron
Attraction
  • Attraction magnetic materials are attracted to both poles of a magnet
Test with a known magnet
  • Repelled means the object is a magnet
  • Attracted means a magnetic material
  • Neither means non-magnetic

Part 3 of 7Types of magnet

Types of magnet
Permanent magnet
  • Permanent magnet made of a material such as steel, has its own field and does not lose its magnetism
Induced (temporary) magnet
  • Induced (temporary) magnet a material such as soft iron that becomes a magnet while in a magnetic field
Induced poles
  • Induced poles the end nearest the magnet becomes the opposite pole, so there is always attraction
Losing magnetism
  • Losing magnetism soft iron loses induced magnetism quickly when removed, steel objects such as paperclips remain magnetised for a while

Part 4 of 7Uses

Permanent magnets
  • Permanent magnets compasses, school experiments, toy trains and fridge magnets
Electromagnets
  • MRI scanners
  • Loudspeakers, microphones and earphones
  • Separating steel for recycling
  • Mag-Lev trains

Part 5 of 7Magnetic fields

Magnetic field
  • Magnetic field a region in which a magnetic pole experiences a force
Field lines
  • Field lines run from the north pole to the south pole with arrows showing the direction of the force
Strength
  • Strength strongest at the poles, where field lines are closest together, and weaker with distance

Part 6 of 7Plotting a field

Iron filings
  • Iron filings sprinkle on paper over a magnet, tap, and they settle on the field lines
Plotting compass
  • Plotting compass mark dots at the ends of the needle, move the compass along and join the dots in a smooth curve
Direction
  • Direction the north end of the compass points along the field, from north pole to south pole

Part 7 of 7More from the specification

More from the specification
Magnetic poles
  • A bar magnet has a north and south pole;
    • like poles repel (move apart) and unlike poles are attracted towards each other.
Magnetic forces
  • Forces act at a distance and are strongest at the poles;
    • they act on magnetic materials such as iron, steel, cobalt and nickel.
Test for a magnet
  • Only repulsion proves a magnet, because a magnetic material is also attracted by a magnet.
Plotting compass
  • A freely suspended piece of magnet aligns with the Earth's field, pointing north, and shows field direction.
Induced magnetism
  • A magnetic material placed near a magnet becomes a temporary magnet, and soft iron loses it easily.
Magnetic poles
  • A bar magnet has a north and south pole;
    • like poles repel (move apart) and unlike poles are attracted towards each other.
Magnetic forces
  • Forces act at a distance and are strongest at the poles;
    • they act on magnetic materials such as iron, steel, cobalt and nickel.
Test for a magnet
  • Only repulsion proves a magnet, because a magnetic material is also attracted by a magnet.
Plotting compass
  • A freely suspended piece of magnet aligns with the Earth's field, pointing north, and shows field direction.
Induced magnetism
  • A magnetic material placed near a magnet becomes a temporary magnet, and soft iron loses it easily.
Magnetic force
  • The force on a moving charge in a magnetic field

Key terms

TermMeaning
PoleEnd of a magnet where the magnetic force is strongest
Induced magnetMaterial temporarily magnetised in a magnetic field
Magnetic fieldRegion in which a magnetic pole experiences a force
Field lineLine showing the direction of the force on a north pole
Permanent magnetMagnet that keeps its magnetism

Avoid these mistakes

1
Saying attraction proves an object is a magnet — only repulsion does.
2
Saying like poles attract — like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
3
Drawing field lines going south to north — they go from north to south outside the magnet.
4
Drawing field lines that cross — the field has one direction at each point.

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