WHAT IS MAGNETISM?

• Magnetism is a force created by

magnets. What is
• Magnetism is also called magnetism?
magnetic force.
• Only magnets produce
magnetic force.
• Magnetic force is invisible and
can be felt by objects around or
near a magnet.
• Magnetic force attracts or
repels other objects or magnets.

Magnetism & Electricity 1 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 MAGNETS
• A magnet is an object that produces magnetic force.
• The strength of a magnet’s magnetic force depends on the size
of the magnet and the material the magnet is made of.
• Most magnets are made of iron, nickel or cobalt. However, not
all iron, nickel or cobalt objects produce magnetic force.
• The strongest magnets are made of rare Earth metals. The
strongest and most commonly used rare Earth metal magnet is
called the Neodymium magnet.

Magnetism & Electricity 2 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 MAGNETS
• A magnet has ends called poles. One
pole is called the north pole (N). The
other is called the south pole (S).
• A bar magnet is a straight, rectangular
magnet. One end of the bar magnet is
the north pole. The other end is the south
pole.
• A horseshoe magnet is a curved,
horseshoe-shaped magnet. One end of
the curve is the north pole. The other
end is the south pole.
• Magnets can also be shaped like disks,
rings and cylinders.
Magnetism & Electricity 3 © Stephanie Elkowitz
 MAGNETS
• The north pole of one magnet is attracted to the south pole of
a second magnet.
• The north pole of one magnet is repelled by the north pole of a
second magnet.
• For this reason, we say like poles repel and unlike poles
attract.

Magnetism & Electricity 4 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 MAGNETS
• You cannot separate the north and south pole of a magnet.
• If you cut a bar magnet in half, you get two smaller bar
magnets. You do not get a “north pole magnet” and a “south
pole magnet.”

Magnetism & Electricity 5 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 MAGNETS
• All matter is made of atoms. Atoms What makes
have magnetic fields. Atoms group a magnet
together when their magnetic fields magnetic?
align. These groups are called domains.
• In a magnet, domains point in the same
direction. This produces an object with
a uniform magnetic field.

• In a non-magnet, the domains point in

random directions.

Magnetism & Electricity 6 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 TYPES of MAGNETS
• There are 3 main types of magnets:
1. A permanent magnet is an object made of matter that is
permanently magnetized. Some iron, nickel or cobalt
objects are permanent magnets.
2. A temporary magnet is an object that becomes a magnet
through magnetization. Over time, a temporary magnet
loses its magnetism. Iron, nickel and cobalt objects can
become temporary magnets.
3. An electromagnet is a temporary magnet produced by an
electric current. You will learn more about electromagnets
later in this presentation.

Magnetism & Electricity 7 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 CREDIT CARDS
• The stripe on the back of a credit
card is a magnetic stripe. It is
called a magstripe.
• The magstripe is made of tiny
iron-based magnetic particles.
These particles are selectively
magnetized to store data or
information.
• A credit card that is exposed to a
strong magnetic field or heat no
longer works because the
magstripe becomes
demagnetized.

Magnetism & Electricity 8 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 COMPUTER HARD DRIVE
• A computer hard drive is made of
magnetic material that can be
magnetized to store data and
demagnetized to erase it.
• Data is stored in extremely small
magnetic domains on platters on the
hard drive.
• The arm stores, reads or erases the
information on the platters.
• The information on a hard drive can
be erased if the computer is exposed
to extreme heat or strong magnetic
fields.

Magnetism & Electricity 9 © Stephanie Elkowitz

 MRI
• MRI (magnetic resonance
imaging) is a type of medical
imaging that produces images of
the body. These images are used
to diagnosis diseases and
anatomy abnormalities.
• An MRI scanner uses strong
magnets and magnetic fields to
create images of the body.
• Unlike X-ray and CT-Scan, MRI
does not expose a patient to
radiation.

Magnetism & Electricity 10 © Stephanie Elkowitz