Unit 10 Magnetism

Magnetism

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Magnetism is an invisible force that can make /'"
some objects move towards or away from each ii", , / ) ,'J
other. We cannot see magnetism but we can
look at magnets and see what happens to the Different shapes of magnets
things that are placed near them.

Magnetic and non-magnetic materials

Metals that are attracted by magnets are called magnetic materials. Not all
~ metals are magnetic. Copper and aluminium are non-magnetic metals.
Hard magnetic materials
Hard magnetic materials are difficult to magnetize, but once magnetized,
they keep their magnetism. Steel, alcomax, and the tiny particles of iron
oxide which c'oat cassette tapes make strong magnets.
Soft magnet;~ materials
Soft magnetic materials are easy to magnetize,

but they lose their magnetism quickly. Iron and

copper wires are used to make electromagnets. They

produce strong magnetic fields but they lose their

magnetism as soon as the current is switched off.

An electromagnet
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Magnetic nature of a magnet
All the particles inside a magnet have a north pole and a south pole and they
are arranged so that the north poles of all the particles face in the same '
direction and the south poles face in the opposite direction. When a magnet
is cut in half, the mini-magnets retain their
magnetic properties, so each half becomes a --. ~~ ~i

magnet with a north pole at one end and ,a

south pole at the other, end. If you cut a , , I\III"~. " ~'\
magn~t in half, you will have two magnets.

Magnetic nature of a magnet

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Magnetic field
The area around a magnet in which it is effective is
caHed its magnetic field. If a magnetic material such
as iron or steel is placed in the magnetic field, the
magnet will pull it towards itself. Magnetic field

To mark the poles ofa magnet

Hang a bar magnet from a piece of string. It will swing around and when
it stops it will be hanging in a north-south position which shows
~pproximately the North Pole and South Pole of the Earth.

To prove that the force of a magnet is strongest at the poles

Place a bar magnet on a sheet of white paper and sprinkle some iron
filings onto the paper. The iron filings wilt arrange themselves around the
magnet in a oefinite pattern of lines, which are the magnetic lines of force
of the magnet The iron filings will be clustered at each pole of the
magnet. This shows that the magnetic force is strongest ot the poles of a
magnet.

Compass
A compass is an instrument which is used to find directions. It
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consists of a small compass needle, which is actually a smalt
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bar magnet, placed inside a metallic box with a glass top.
Because of the magnetic field of the Earth, the compass needle
always points in the North-South direction so it can be used to
find direction.

Magnetic field of the Earth

The Earth is like a huge bar magnet with a weak
magnetic field around it. This is what makes it
possible to find directions using a compass.

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 To plot the magnetic field of a bar magnet
Place a bar magnet in the middle of a sheet of white paper and draw its
outline. Place a compass needle near one pole of the magnet and mark
the North-South positions of the needle with two pencil dots. Move the
compass to the second dot position and mark the North-South positions
again. Continue in this manner tiU you reach the other pole of the
magnet. Join the dots. Now repeat the same method from different points
round the magnet.
Observe the pattern that is made. It wiU be seen that the lines run from
the north pote to the south pole and that the lines run closer together
nearer the poles.

Magnetism, in living things

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Some animals are magnetic. Most insects, whales, dolphins, birds) and
humans have some kind of magnetic material which helps them to find their
way, even when they cannot see.
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How to make a magnet
Some materials like iron, nickel, cobalt, etc. can be made into magnets by
the following methods.
Stroking with a magnet
When a steel bar is stroked with one pole of a bar magnet in one direction
several times, it becomes a magnet. This happens because aU the atoms of
the steel bar which were arranged irregularly in the beginning arrange
themselves in such a way that all their north poles face one direction and
their south poles face the other; that is, they form one big magnet with north
and south poles.
Magnetizing with electricity
When an electric current is passed through a coil of wire, it behaves like a
magnet; that is, it can attract iron or steel. If a piece of soft iron is placed
inside the coil, it will be magnetized and will remain so as long as the current
flows in the coil. This kind of magnet is called an electromagnet.

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The magnetic field around an electromagnet can be made stronger by

passing a stronger current through the wire, or by increasing the number of
turns in the wire.

How to demagnetize a magnet

A magnet can be demagnetized if it is beaten with a hammer or heated. It
will lose its magnetism because its atoms, which were lined up in a regular
pattern, are thrown about irregularly and the magnet no longer remains a
magnet.

Using electromagnets
Electromagnets can do all the things that ordinary magnets can do, but you
can switch them on and off. Electromagnets are used in many household
appliances such as refrigerators and deep freezes. They are also used in scrap
yards to separttte steel and iron scrap from non-magnetic scrap.
An electric bell
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An electric belt uses an electromagnet which is switched on and off by a
contact breaker.
When the bell switch is pressed, the current flows through the circuit. The
electromagnet then attracts the soft, iron piece and the hammer strikes the
gong. Once the soft iron is pulted away from the
contact point, the circuit is broken and the current
does not flow. The electromagnet loses its
magnetism and the soft iron piece returns to its
original position, causing the circuit to be closed
again. This repeated action makes the belt ring.
Telephone
There is an electromagnet in a telephone earpiece.
As the current through it varies, the pull on a An electric bell
metal plate varies. This makes the plate vibrate
and send sound waves into the ear.

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 ACTlVlrrlES
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Place a piece of white card over a bar magnet. Sprinkle some iron filings onto the
card. Tap the cardboard gently. Draw the pattern made by the iron filings.

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Producing u magnetic field with lln elt.:ctric current
You wiu need a strip of aluminium foil, two pieces of wire, a bar magnet, and a
battery. Join the ends of the aluminium foil to the ends of the wires. Connect the free
ends of each wire to the terminals of the battery.
What happens to the foit? Why 40 you think this happens? If you bring the magnet
near the foit, you wiu notice that the foil begins to move about.
The electric current flowing through the foit is creating a magnetic field around it.

3. To ml.lke u. magnetic
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sailing bout
You wilt n~ed a cork, a plastic tray, a bar magnet tied to a wooden ruler, two wooden
blocks, four drawing pins, some card, and a pin. Cut the cork in half, and stick four
drawing pins on its flat surface. Cut a triangular piece of card and fix it on the curved
edge of the cork with a pin. Put the tray on two wooden blocks. CarefuUy fiU it with
water and place the boat in it. Move the magnet under the tray. The boat wiu move
with the magnet.

EXERCISES

1. Answer the foUo\\'ing questions.

(a) What is magnetism?
(b) What is magnetic force?
(c) What is a magnetic field?
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(d) Describe a compass. What is a compass used for?
(e) Explain the magnetic naturtl of a magnet.
(f) What is an electromagnet? How can the magnetism of an electromagnet be made
stronger?
(g) Name two devices in which electromagnets are used.

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EXERCISES

') Circle the correct answer.

(a) Which one of the following materials is not attracted by a magnet?
(i) iron (ii) coal
(iii) cobalt (iv) nickel
(b) The force of a magnet is strongest at
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(i) the nonh pole only. (ii) the south pole only.
(iii) in the middle. (iv) at both poles.
(c) The magnetic field of the Earth is
(i) weak. (ii) strong. (iii) neutraL
(d) When an electric current is passed through a coil of wire, it forms
(i) a bar magnet. (ii) an electromagnet.
(iii) a compass needle.
'" can be demagnetized if
(e) A mag1'let
(i) it is stroked with a magnet. (ii) it is beaten with a hammer.
(iii) un ~lectric current is passed through it.

3. Tick thl! correct uns\ver.

(a) Copper/steel is a non-magnetic metaL
(b) Hard/soft magnetic materials are difficult to magnetize.
(c) If we cut a magnet in half we will always have one/two magnets.
(d) The area around a magnet in which it is

effective is called its electricaVmagnetic field.

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(e) The force of a magnet is strongest in the ' r •r
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middle/at the poles. . ; 0

(f) The magnetic field of the Earth/Moon makes

it possible for us to find directions using a ' • Homing pigeons probably
compass. use the Earth's magnetic
,field to find their way home.
4. Hll\\, cun .40U prove thut the force of u magnet is Part of their brain acts like
stwnp~st ut the poks? a compass.
• The Sun gives off huge
'5. How Cllll we murk the poles of u bar magnet?
amounts of radiation in the
form of electromagnetic
(), Dw\\' the mugnetic field of a bur mugnl!t using u waves. These include
comruss needle. infrared, light, and
ultraviolet waves.

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Am~g Science 5
Soil '\ .,(
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Soil is the outer layer of the crust of the Earth. It is a mixture of
small pieces of rock, air, minerals, salts, water, humus, and microbes.

To examine the composition of soil

Put some garden soil in a measuring cylinder. Pour some water
in it and stir it gently. Allow the solution to stand for a while.
You will see layers of different soil components.
The heaviest particles, such as small stones, will settle at the
bottom, and parts of roots, leaves, and small insects will be seen
floating on the surface.

Rocks and stones

Rocks and 'gto"nes hold the roots of plants firmly to the ground. Air and water
are present in the spaces between the soil particles.
Air
f Air provides oxygen for the roots of plants and for other organisms living in
• the soil.

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To prove that soil contains air
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Fill three-fifths of a beaker with garden soil, and tap it gently. Pour some
water onto it. You will see bubbles of air coming out from the surface of
the soiL What do you see? Why does this happen?

Water

1 Plants absorb water and mineral salts from the soil through their roots.

To prove that soil contains water

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p.ut some garden soil in an evaporating dish and weigh it. Now heat the i
dish until the soil becomes dry and powder-like. Cool the dish and weigh J
it again. There will be a loss in weight, which is due to the evaporation of I··
the water in it. Is there a change in weight? Can you explain why?

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To test the drainage of different kinds of soils
Take three funnels and put filter papers in them. Place each funnel in a glass
beaker. Put equal amounts of sand, clay, and loam in each funnel. Pour
25 ml of water in each funnel and, after one hour, note the amount of water
that has collected in the beakers that are placed under each funnel. You will
see that the beaker under the sandy soil contains the most water and the
beaker under the clay contains the least. Explain why there is a difference in
the amount of water collected in each beaker.

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Clay Sand
Loam
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Drainage in different types of soil

humus •
Lagers of soil
topsoil
Topsoil subsoil
This is the fertile top layer of the soil, which is dark brown due
to the presence of humus. It is rich in minerals. Many plants
and animals live in it.

Subsoil
This is the lighter-coloured layer of soil found below the topsoil.
Tt is rich in minerals, but contains no humus and few organisms
can live in it. Some plant roots extend deep into the subsoil.

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 .. \ Unit 11 Soil. \

Microbes
Microorganisms break down dead plants and animals to form humus which
returns minerals and other useful substances back to the soil.

To prove that microbes are present in soil

Take some garden soil and tie it in a muslin bag. Now hang it in a flask
containing some freshly-prepared lime water. Put the stopper on the flask
and allow it to stand for some time. If the soil contains microorganisms,
the lime water wilt- turn milky because their breathing will produce carbon
dioxide.

Living organisms
Earthworms and some insects make holes in the soil which allow air to pass
through. >

Their activity also helps in mixing the layers of soil.

Formation of soil Earthworm

I;, The action of wind, temperaturechanges~ chemicals, and water breaks the
surface of rocks into tiny grains by a process called weathering. This
process has been going o'n for million~ of years and soil is continuously being
formed. •
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Formation of soil
through weathering

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Types of soil
Soils are named according to the size of the particles present in them.
Clay soil
This type of soil is made up of tiny particles which stick to each other. As
there are very few air spaces, water is trapped between the particles. This
type of soil is called heavy soil because it has a lot of water and very little
air. It also has a large amount of minerals. Plants and animals cannot live in
such soil because they cannot breathe in it.
Sandy soil
This type of soil is made up of bigger particles which have large spaces
between them so water and air can freely circulate in them. Water drains
very quickly fr~m' it and takes away most of the minerals with it. Therefore,
this type of soil is also called hungry soiL
Plants and animals cannot live in such soil because, although there is a lot of
air, it lacks the'minerals and water essential for their. healthy growth.

Loam
T~is soil contains a mixture of large and small particles as well as a lot of
minerals due to the presence of humus. It is the best type of soil for the
Iiii• . healthy growth of plants and animals because it contains air: water, ,'and
minerals.
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i Humus
Humus consists of the dead and decaying remains of plants. It helps to keep
. the soil in good condition for the healthy growth of plants. It binds large
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particles of sand so that they are not easily blown away by wind or washed
away by flowing water. It helps to loosen up small clay particles so that the
water present between them is drained away and more air can circulate. It
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releases important minerals in the soil which are qeeded by plants for their
heqlthy growth.

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Erosion
Plant roots help to hold soil particles together. If plants gro\\;mg in an area
are cut down, burnt, or eaten by animals, the land becomes bore. The top
layer of soil can be easily worn away by rainwater or blo\vn by wind. No
plants can grow in the remaining soil. The removal of the fertile top layer of
soil is called erosion.

Fertilizers
Plants use minerals to make important food substances. They absorb these
minerals from the soil through their roots. As these minerals are used up,
, more must be added to the soil to replace them. This is done by applying
chemical substances called fertilizers which contain minerals necessary for
the healthy growth of plants.

Types of fertilizers
Organic fertilizers
Manure (animal waste), compost (decaying plants), dried blood, and bones
are organic fertilizers because they are made from the bodies of living
organisms. These organic substances have ,to be broken down by the action
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of microbes to release the important ~'~'~" .::n-...'5!""~ W't'~ifj!"'~ti'!i!'-,,> ;::¥< ~'. "'V
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minerals present in them, so they act
slowly.

,Inorganic fertilizers Grains and" pebbles are worn

smooth as water carries them
1 These are chemically made in factories. along, that is why beach sand ,
They are soluble in water, so plants can use , which IS always on the move is
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them immediately, but they can prove very
'smoother than river sand.
harmful if they are used for a long tilne or

in large quantities. Urea is a commonly

used fertilizer.

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VNIVIlJ.lITY PUll
 Unit 11 Soil

ACTIVITIES
Studyin~J soH
Look carefully at a sample of soil through a hand lens. Rub the soil between your fingers.
Are all the particles the same size? Can you identify any pieces of dead animal or plant
parts in it?
WARNING: Wash your hands very carefully after handling the soil.

EXERCISES
1 . Answer the foUowiny questions.
(a) What is soil? (b) N arne the components of soil.
(c) How are soil microbes useful? (d) What is humus? Why is it important?
(e) How does rainwater cause soil erosion? (f) Describe the different types of soil.
(g) Why is loam the best type of (h) What is the erosion of soil? Why is
soil for plants? it harmful?
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1. ~\latch the itl.:ll1S in lists A und B.
A B
(a) Soil break down dead organisms.
(b) Air is the outer layer of the Earth's crust.
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(c) Water is the removal of topsoil.
(d) Microbes provides oxygen for respirapon.
(e) Erosion is absorbed by plant roots.
(f) Clay is the best type of soil..for plants."
(g) Sandy soil has poor drainage.
(h) Loam is hungry soil.
(i) Humus is a chemical fertilizer.
(D Urea is an organic fertilizer.

3. Correct the followin~l stutcn1Cl1ts.

(a) Air in soil holds the roots of plants firmly to the ground.
(b) Water provides oxygen for the respiration of roots and other living organisms in
the soil.
(c) The removal of the subsoil layer by wind and water is called erosion.
(d) Wind breaks down rocks to form sand particles.
(e) Clay soil contains large air spaces.
(f) Sandy soil is heavy soil.
(g) Clay is the best type of soil for the growth of plants.
(h) Humus is the dead and decaying remains of rocks.
(i) Subsoil is the fertile top layer of soil.

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