Magnetism

Experiment 1

Place a bar magnet in a

paper stirrup as shown and
hang it from a wooden
table or a wooden retort
stand.
Leave it hanging until it
stops moving. From a
compass or from the
position of the Sun, find
out which direction is
North. Which direction
does the magnet point to?
 Results
• You have made a compass. A freely moving
magnet comes to rest pointing roughly North-
South.
• The end-pointing North is called the North-
seeking pole (N pole) of the magnet. The
other end is the South-seeking pole (S-pole)
Experiment 2
Mark the N-pole of the magnet
from the previous experiment.
Then take that magnet well
away and repeat the experiment
with another magnet.
Now bring the N-pole of the first
magnet close to the N-pole of
the hanging magnet. What
happens? What happens if you
bring the S-poles close together?
What happens if you bring a N-
pole near a S-pole?
 Conclusions
• Like poles repel each other
• Unlike poles attract each other.
Theory of Magnetism

Take a magnetic strip and

check which end is North
and South. Then break it in
half and use a compass to
test each piece. Is each
half a magnet?
Magnetised and Unmagnetised objects
Experiment

Fill a small test-tube with iron

filings and test it to check that it is
unmagnetised.
Stroke it with the N-pole of a
magnet, while looking carefully
inside the test-tube. Can you see
the iron filings being pulled round
by the magnet?
Bring a small compass near each
end of the test-tube. Is the test-
tube now a magnet?
Which end is its N-pole? Can you
explain this (remembering that like
poles repel)?
Shake the test-tube (as though you
are hammering it)and test it again.
Is it demagnetised? Why?
 Making a magnet
A. Stroking method B. Electrical method
Destroying a magnet

A. Hammering

B. Heating

C. Alternating
Current method