Magnets and Magnetism

Chapter 6 Section 1

Vocab• Magnet- any material that attracts iron or

materials containing iron.• Magnetic Pole- one of two points, such as the

ends of a magnet, that have opposing magnetic qualities.

• Magnetic force- the force of attraction or repulsion generated by moving or spinning electric charges.

• All magnets have two poles. The north pole will always point to the north if allowed to rotate freely. The other pole is the south pole.

• Like magnetic poles repel each other- opposite magnetic poles attract.

• Every magnet is surrounded by a magnetic field.

• A material is magnetic if its domains line up.

• Magnets can be classified as ferromagnets, electromagnets, temporary magnets, and permanent magnets.

• Ferromagnets- naturally occurring• Electromagnets- magnet created using electric

current• Temporary magnets- easy to magnetize and

easy to demagnetize• Permanent magnets- hard to magnetize but

once magnetized, they will stay magnetized for a long time.

• Earth acts as if it has a big bar magnet through its core. Compass needles and the north poles of magnets point to Earth’s magnetic south pole, which is near the Earth’s geographic north pole.

• Auroras are most commonly seen near Earth’s magnetic poles because Earth’s magnetic field bends inward at the poles.