Ch 8 Notes
- Magnetism
- Magnets
- Magnetism – properties and interactions of magnets
- Magnetic Force – interaction between two magnets
- magnets exert a force on only some metals (iron, cobalt, and nickel) and each other
- Magnetic force increases as magnets move closer together
- Magnetic Field
- magnetic fields around magnets exerts a magnetic force
- strongest closest to magnet
- Magnetic Poles-where magnetic force is the strongest
- magnets have north and south poles
- poles at opposite ends of a bar magnet
- North pole of magnet points north when freely turning (compass)
- Magnetic field lines connect north and south poles
- Magnet Interaction
- can attract or repel
- opposites attract (North and South)
- likes repel (South/South and North/North)
- Magnetic fields combine to produce a new magnetic field
- Compass Needle
- magnet free to rotate can turn when placed into a magnetic field
- Compass has a small bar magnet that rotates
- North pole of compass will point towards south pole of bar magnet
- Compass needle will also line up along magnetic field lines that pass near it
- Earth’s Magnetic Field
- Earth acts like a giant bar magnet
- North pole of compass needle points north
- On Earth, its south magnetic pole is near its geographic north pole
- One theory says that the Earth’s magnetic field is caused by circulation of molten iron and nickel in the Earth’s core
- Electricity & Magnetism
- Electric Current and Magnetism
- Electricity and magnetism are related
- passing an electric current through a wire creates a circular magnetic field around the wire
- the direction of the field depends on the direction of the current
- the strength of the field depends on the amount of current flowing
- Electromagnets
- Electromagnet – a temporary magnet made by placing a piece of iron inside a coil or wire carrying a current
- Current flows through the loop of wire and magnetic field lines are produced
- If more loops are added, the field lines overlap and become stronger
- If an iron core is inserted into the coil, the iron becomes magnetized
- Properties of Electromagnets
- They are temporary magnets
- Has a north and south pole
- Aligns itself along magnetic field lines
- Is attracted or repelled by other magnets
- Magnetic properties can be controlled by changing the current
- Used in stereo speakers and electric motors and to lift large metal objects
- Electric motors
- Electric motor – a device that changes electrical energy into mechanical energy
- contains an electromagnet that is free to rotate between the poles of a permanent fixed magnet
- the coil is connected to a source of electric current (battery)
- current flows and a magnetic field is produced
- the functions of switching poles:
- coil in an electric motor turn so its north and south poles are aligned along the magnetic field lines of the permanent magnets (at opposite sides)
- once aligned, the coil will no longer rotate
- electric current in the coil is reversed and the like poles will be next to each other, and the coil will rotate (repel)
- a commutator or alternating current (AC) continuously reverses the current to keep the motor rotating
- more current – coil turns faster
- Producing Electric Current
- Mechanical to Electrical Energy
- Moving a magnet through a loop of wire produces a current
- Electromagnetic induction – moving a loop of wire through a magnetic field produces a current
- generators – produce electric current by electromagnetic induction
- works like an electric motor
- coil continuously turns as current switches direction, changes twice with each revolution and can be controlled
- Alternators – type of generator used in cars to provide energy to operate lights and other accessories
- Power Plants have huge generators where the magnets move instead of the coil
- Turbine – a large wheel that rotates when pushed by water, wind, or steam that is connected to rotating magnets
- Thermal energy (burning fossil fuels, steam) →mechanical energy (turbine blades move) →electrical energy (electrical current)
- Direct and Alternating Current
- Direct Current – flows in one direction through a wire (ex: battery)
- Alternating Current – reverses the direction of current flow in a regular way (ex: generator)
- Transformers
- Transformer – a device that increases or decreases the voltage of an alternating current
- made of two coils, primary and secondary, wrapped around an iron core
- if second coil has more turns than primary – increases voltage (step-up transformer)
- if second coil has less turns than primary – decreases voltage (step-down transformer)
- if secondary coil has two times more turns, then voltage would be doubled and vice versa
- Some energy carried by the current is lost as heat
- caused by resistance
- increases as wire increases in length
- power plants can lose up to 10% of their energy
- prevented by using higher voltages
- power lines – 750,000 volts
- homes – 120 volt (uses transformers)