Magnetism,

Magnetic Fields
• The source of all magnetism is moving
electric charges.
• Iron is the element with the most magnetic
properties due to its net electron spin of 4.
• Magnetic field lines are vectors with a
direction from North to South.
• Magnetic field lines must not cross each
other.
• Magnetic fields are measured in Teslas and is
represented with the symbol B.
 Earth’s Magnetic Field

The angle between the magnetic and

geographic poles is called the magnetic
variation or declination.
 Compasses
• Compass needles are magnetized and line up
along magnetic field lines.
• The North magnetic pole of a compass points
to the geographic north.
• Since opposites attract, the magnetic pole in
the Northern Hemisphere is actually a South
magnetic pole.
• The North pole of a compass points in the
direction of the field lines.
 Magnetic Field around a
straight current-carrying wire
• A current moving through a wire
creates a magnetic field around
that wire.
• The magnetic field forms
concentric circles around the wire.
• Right hand rule (see picture):
thumb – points in direction of the

current in the wire

fingers curl – in direction of the
 Electromagnets
• Electromagnets are Right-hand Rule:
temporary magnets Fingers curl – in direction
formed by wrapping of the current (+ to -)
wire around an iron Thumb – points in
core. direction of the North pole
• The iron becomes
magnetized when the
N S
current is flowing due to
the magnetic field being
concentrated inside the
coil of wire.
 Force of a magnetic field on a
current-carrying wire
• A conductor with
a current flowing
through it in a
magnetic field
will experience a
force.

F  BIl sin
F = force(N) I = current(A) l = length of wire in field (m),
B = magnetic field strength(T)  = angle between B & I
 Right-hand Rule (F  BIl )
• Flat fingers – point in the direction of the
magnetic field (B)
• Thumb – points in the direction the current
or moving charges (I)
• Coming out of palm – direction of the force
on the wire (F)
• Remember: magnetic field is from N to S,
current is from + to -
 Magnitude of Force ( F  BIl )
• If Ө is zero, F = 0. So there is no force on the wire if
the wire moves parallel to the magnetic field.
• If Ө is 90°, F = maximum. So there is a maximum
force on the wire if the wire moves perpendicular to
the magnetic field.
• If Ө is between 0 and 90°, the force will between 0
and a maximum. For the right-hand rules we will
assume 90°.
 Force between 2 current-
carrying wires
• When a current flows through a wire a
magnetic field is produced around it.
• When 2 wires carry current near each
other there will be an interaction
(force) between the magnetic fields
produced by each individual wire.
• If the current is in the same direction,
the wires attract each other.
• If the current is in opposite directions,
the wires repel each other.
 Force of a magnetic field on a
charged particle
• A charged particle moving
through a magnetic field
will experience a force that
will cause it to move in a
circular path.
• The force is  to both the
velocity and the magnetic
field direction. F  Bvqsin
F = force(N), q = charge(C), v = velocity(m/s),
B = mag. field strength(T), =angle between v & B
 Right-hand Rule (F=Bvq)
• Flat fingers – point in direction of the magnetic
field (B)
• Thumb – points in the direction the charged
particle is moving (v)
• Coming out of palm – direction of the force on the
charged particle (F)
• Note – This rule is for a positively charged
particle. For a negatively charged particle, force is
negative and so the direction of the force is in the
opposite direction of the right-hand rule.
 Magnitude of Force (F=Bvq)
• If Ө is zero, F = 0. So there is no force on the
charged particle if the particle moves parallel to
the magnetic field.
• If Ө is 90°, F = maximum. So there is a maximum
force on the charged particle if the charged
particle moves perpendicular to the magnetic field.
• If Ө is between 0 and 90°, the force will between 0
and a maximum. For the right-hand rules we will
assume 90°.
 Motors vs. Generators
• Motors • Generators
– Electric current is – Motion is changed
changed to motion. to electric current.
– A coil of wire with – Turning a coil in a
a current through it magnetic field will
will be forced to induce an EMF
turn in a magnetic (voltage), thus
field. current is
produced.
 AC/DC
• Alternating Current (AC) • Direct Current (DC)
– current that switches – current that flows in
direction of flow on only one direction
regular time intervals through a circuit
– 60 Hz in US – supplied by batteries or
– Supplied by wall outlet electrochemical cells
 Transformers
• Changes the voltage.
• An alternating current flows through the
primary coil creating an alternating
magnetic field.
• This changing magnetic field induces an
EMF (Voltage) in the secondary coil and
thus current flows.
• In an ideal transformer:
Power in = Power out.
Step-up Transformer (picture on the left)
• More turns on the secondary coil
• Increases the voltage (VS > VP)
• Used at the power plant to send over
long distances (want minimum
current so less heat loss – I2 R)
Step-down Transformer (picture on the right)
• More turns on the primary coil
• Decreases the voltage (VS < VP)
• Used near homes (so have enough current)