The earths core is mostly iron.

It generates the earths magnetic field that is similar to the shape

of a bar magnet. The magnetic field south pole is located near the geographical north pole of
the earth. The magnetic field north pole is located near the geographical south pole of the earth.

A magnet suspended so that is can rotate freely horizontally will settle down with one pole
facing the north(north pole) and the other facing the south(south pole).

The magnet has been oriented by the earths magnetic field. A compass is an application of this
effect.

ELECTROMAGNETISM
A magnetic field is generated when electric current passes through a conducting metal. The
magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of current flow, so the magnetic field lines are
concentric circles centered on the wire.
Draw this:

The right hand grip rule to find magnetic field (Draw this hand diagram):
The thumb is placed in the direction of the electric current. The fingers show the direction of the
magnetic field.
Draw this:

A solenoid is a coil of wire carrying a current.

The magnetic field generated by it is similar to shape of a bar magnet.
The strength of the field is increased with: 1. The electrical current, 2. The number of turns in
the coil

N S

The right hand grip rule to find poles of

magnetic field and direction of current:
The thumb points towards the north pole end of the coil.
The fingers are placed in the direction that the electric current flows around the coil.
ELECTROMAGNETS:
An electromagnet consists of a current carrying coil wrapped around a magnetic material core,
like iron, cobalt or nickel (mainly iron tho).

Since the iron core of the electromagnet is a soft magnetic material it quickly loses its magnetic
properties once the current is lost.
Use of electromagnets:
1. Scrap yard crane:
The iron core of the electromagnet is soft. When current flows the iron becomes
strongly magnetised and so picks up the crap iron and steel, when the current is
turned off the iron loses its magnetisation and so releases the scrap. Scrap can
be picked up and dropped easily by turning the electromagnet on or off.
2. The electric bell:
 When the push switch is closed current flows around the circuit turning on the
elctromagnet.
The soft iron armature is pulled towards the electromagnet and the hammer hits
the gong.
This causes the contact switch to open cutting off the electric current. The
electromagnet loses its magnetic properties, and iron armature is not attracted
again.
The spring now pulls the armature back again closing the contact switch.

Current now flows again the hammer hits the gong again. The process is
repeated to produce the ring of a bell.
Once the push switch is released/opened the bell stops ringing.

3. The relay switch:

A relay switch is a way of using a low voltage circuit to switch a high voltage (and
possibly dangerous) circuit remotely.
When swtich A is closed the small current proided by the cell causes the electromagnet
to become magnetised.
The iron armature is then attracted to the electromagnet causing the springy contact
switch B to close in the high voltage circuit allowing current to flow there.
When switch A is opened the electromagnet loses its magnetic properties and the
armature returns to its original position which causes switch B to open, breaking the high
voltage circuit.

The circuit Breaker:

Currently normally flows between terminal A and B through the contact and the
electromagnet. The contact switch is held by the iron armature and reset button.
When the current in a circuit increases, so does the strength of the electromagnet. This
will pull the soft iron armature towards the electromagnet. If the current is too high.
Spring `1lifts the reset button and pulls apart the contact and breaks the circuit
immediately, stopping current flow.
The electromagnet loses its magnetic field and spring 2 pulls the soft iron armature back
to its original positon.
The reset button can be pushed to bring the contact back to its original position to
reconnect the circuit.