What is Magnet?

Objects which attract magnetic materials like cobalt, nickel and iron are called as a magnet.
The ancient, elderly, Greek shepherd was the first person to discover mineral. It is a
naturally occurring mineral called magnetite. Therefore, this naturally occurring mineral – magnet
was named by the discover’s name. The magnets, obtained naturally from a Magnetite rock, are
called as the natural magnets and those magnets prepared by the combination of certain mineral
ores are called as the artificial magnets.
Magnetic Materials: Cobalt, nickel and iron are some examples of Magnetic Materials. These
materials easily attract a magnet.
Non-magnetic Materials: Aluminum, zinc, wood, and rubber are called the Non-magnetic Materials,
as these materials are not attracted towards the magnet even when they are brought closer to the
magnets.

Types of Magnets
There are different types of magnets and are classified based on their shapes. The different types of
magnets include – bar magnet, dumb-bell shaped magnet, horseshoe magnet, cylindrical magnet,
etc.

Magnetic compass
The magnetic compass is a simple device which has been used from the ancient times by the sailors
and other travellers to find directions. A magnetic compass is composed of a small box with a glass
top and a magnetic needle which moves and indicates the directions.

Introduction Magnet and magnetite

 Substances that attract materials like iron, nickel etc.
 Magnets occur naturally as a particular type of rock.
 This rock is called magnetite.

Discovery of Magnets
Greeks used the term magnet in six hundred B.C. for the mysterious stone that seemed to attract
iron and other materials. It was first discovered by a Greek shepherd named Magnes (hence the
terminology) when his stick that had an iron end got stuck to a rock.

Magnetic and non-magnetic materials

 Materials that get attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic materials. E.g iron, cobalt
or nickel.
 Materials that do not get attracted by a magnet are nonmagnetic materials. E.g wood, plastic
etc.
Poles of a Magnet
Every magnet is bipolar, i.e they have 2 poles at the extremities. This can be seen by spreading iron
filings around a magnet. These filings arrange themselves in a pattern which is mostly dense
towards the two ends of a magnet. These poles are called North and South poles of a magnet.

How to Find Your Way Using a Magnet

Magnetic poles of the Earth

 Earth has 2 geographic poles, north and south poles.
 They are the Arctic (South pole of the earth’s magnet) and Antarctica (Noth Pole of the
earth’s magnet).
 Earth’s magnetic poles are near but not exactly in the same place as the geographic poles.
 A magnetic compass aligns itself towards the magnetic north pole of the earth.

Using magnets to find directions

 When a bar magnet is suspended freely by a thread, it aligns itself to the direction of North.
 Travellers have used this property of magnets for ages to find directions.
 A compass is a device with a magnetised needle pivoted inside a box covered by glass
which points to the direction of north and is a useful tool for finding directions.

Can You Make Your Own Magnet?

Making a magnet
 The magnetic material can be made into a magnet by rubbing a magnet on the surface of the
magnetic material.
 This creates an influence, where the particles inside the material align themselves like the
poles of a magnet.

Microscopic cause of magnetism

 Each particle in a magnetic material behaves somewhat like a bar magnet.
 They are normally aligned randomly within the material.
 But under the influence of a stronger magnet, they realign themselves according to the
stronger magnet’s field.

Loss of magnetic property

The magnetic property of a magnet is lost on:

 Heating
 Hammering or hitting
 Dropping

Do Opposites Really Attract?

Attraction and Repulsion between Magnets

Like poles repel each other, while unlike poles attract each other.

Inseparable Poles
 Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.
 If you cut a bar magnet in half, it forms 4 poles, each half having a north and a south pole.

What is a Magnet?
A magnet is defined as

An object which is capable of producing magnetic field and attracting unlike poles
and repelling like poles.

Properties of Magnet
Following are the basic properties of magnet:

 When a magnet is dipped in iron filings, we can observe that the iron filings cling to the end
of the magnet as the attraction is maximum at the ends of the magnet. These ends are
known as poles of the magnets.
 Magnetic poles always exist in pairs.
 Whenever a magnet is suspended freely in mid-air, it always points towards north-south
direction. Pole pointing towards geographic north is known as North pole and the pole
pointing towards geographic south is known as South pole.
 Like poles repel while unlike poles attract.
 The magnetic force between the two magnets is greater when the distance between these
magnets are lesser.

Types of Magnets
There are three types of magnets and they are as follows:

 Permanent magnet
 Temporary magnet
 Electromagnets

Permanent Magnet
Permanent magnets are those magnets that are commonly used. They are known as permanent
magnets because they do not lose their magnetic property once they are magnetized.
Following are the ways to demagnetize the permanent magnets:

 Exposing magnets to extreme temperatures.

 The magnetic attraction between the magnet’s atoms gets loosen when they are hammered.
 Stroking one magnet with the other in an inappropriate manner will reduce the magnetic
strength.
There are four types of permanent magnets:

 Ceramic or ferrite
 Alnico
 Samarium Cobalt (SmCo)
 Neodymium Iron Boron (NIB)

Temporary Magnet
Temporary magnets can be magnetized in the presence of a magnetic field. When the magnetic field
is removed, these materials lose their magnetic property. Iron nails and paperclips are examples of
the temporary magnet.
Electromagnets
Electromagnets consist of a coil of wire wrapped around the metal core made from iron. When this
material is exposed to an electric current, the magnetic field is generated making the material
behave like a magnet. The strength of the magnetic field can be controlled by controlling the electric
current.

Characteristics of Magnet
Following are the characteristics of magnet:

 Attractive property: This property proves that the magnetic strength at the ends of the
poles are strong.
 Directive property: This property helps to understand which pole of the magnet is north and
south by suspending the magnet in mid-air.
 Law of magnetic poles: Like poles repel while unlike poles attract.
 Pair property: When a magnet is cut into two pieces, both the pieces will have a north pole
and south pole.
 Sure test of magnetization: This test is conducted to check if a given rod is magnetized or
not by checking either the attraction or the repulsion of the iron rod and magnet.

Uses of Magnets
Following are the uses of magnets:

 Magnets are used for constructing magnetic needles and mariner’s compass.
 Permanent magnets find applications in generators, electric accelerators, and electric
motors.
 Electromagnets find application in speakers, electric bells, and electric cranes.
 Magnets are used for the separation of iron filling from other solid mixture.

Difference Between Electromagnet and Permanent Magnet

The major difference between an electromagnet and permanent magnet is that the former can
have a magnetic field when electric current flows through it and disappears when the flow of the
current stops. On the other hand, a permanent magnets are made up of magnetic material that is
magnetized and has its own magnetic field. It will always displays the magnetic behaviour.
Difference Between Electromagnet and Permanent Magnet
As the name suggests permanent magnet magnetic field is permanent and electromagnets
magnetic field depends upon the flow of the electrical current. The electromagnet constitutes a
coil made of wire which acts as a magnet when current is passed through it. Usually a
ferromagnetic material like steel is wrapped by an electromagnet to enhance its magnetic field.

Difference Between Electromagnet and Permanent Magnet

Electromagnet Permanent Magnet

The magnetic properties are displayed when current Magnetic properties exist when the material is
is passed through it magnetized

The strength is adjusted depending upon the amount The strength depends upon the nature of the material
of flow of current used in its creation

Removal of magnetic properties is temporary Once magnetic properties is lost, it becomes useless

It requires a continuous supply of electricity to It doesn’t require a continuous supply of electricity to

maintain its magnetic field. maintain its magnetic field

It is usually made of soft materials It is usually made of hard materials

The poles of this kind of magnet can be altered with The poles of this kind of magnet cannot be changed.
the flow of current

Exercise Questions
1. Fill in the blanks in the following
(i) Artificial magnets are made in different shapes such as __________, __________ and
____________.
(ii) The Materials which are attracted towards a magnet are called________.
(iii) Paper is not a ______ material.
(iv) In olden days, sailors used to find direction by suspending a piece of ___________.
(v) A magnet always has __________ poles.
Solution:
(i) Artificial magnets are made in different shapes such as bar magnet, horse shoe and cylindrical.
(ii) The Materials which are attracted towards a magnet are called magnetic.
(iii) Paper is not a magnetic material.
(iv) In olden days, sailors used to find direction by suspending a piece of magnet.
(v) A magnet always has two poles.
2. State whether the following statements are true or false:
(i) A cylindrical magnet has only one pole.
(ii) Artificial magnets were discovered in Greece.
(iii) Similar poles of a magnet repel each other.
(iv) Maximum iron filings stick in the middle of a bar magnet when it is brought near them.
(v) Bar magnets always point towards North-South direction.
(vi) A compass can be used to find East-West direction at any place.
(vii) Rubber is a magnetic material.
Solution:
i) False
ii) False
iii) True
iv) False
v) True
vi) True
vii) False
3. It was observed that a pencil sharpener gets attracted by both the poles of a magnet
although its body is made of plastic. Name a material that might have been used to make
some part of it.
Solution:
Iron might have been used to make some part of it.
4. Column I shows different positions in which one pole of a magnet is placed near that of the
other. Column II indicates the resulting action between them for each situation. Fill in the
blanks.

Column – I Column – II

N-N _______

N- Attraction

S-N _____
 -S Repulsion
Solution:

Column – I Column – II

N-N Repulsion

N- S Attraction

S-N Attraction

S– S Repulsion
5. Write any two properties of a magnet.
Solution:
Properties of magnet are as follows

 It attracts objects made of Nickel, Cobalt and Iron.

 Magnet directs the side in north and south direction.
6. Where are poles of a bar magnet located?
Solution:
On two ends of a bar magnet.
7. A bar magnet has no markings to indicate its poles. How would you find out near which
end is its north pole is located?
Solution:
A bar magnet is hanged in the air and the end pointing to the north is the north pole of the magnet.
8. You are given an iron strip. How will you make it into a magnet?
Solution:
Take a bar magnet and keep in contact with one of its poles with one edge of the bar of iron.

 Without lifting the bar magnet, move it along the length of the iron bar till you reach the other
end.
 Lift the magnet and bring the pole (the same pole you started with) to the same point of the
iron bar from which we began.
 Move the magnet again along the iron bar in the same direction as you did before.
 Repeat this process for about 30-40 times.
9. How is a compass used to find directions?
Solution:
A compass always shows north and south direction, by keeping this as a reference we can always
find east and west directions also.
10. A magnet was brought from different directions towards a toy boat that has been floating
in water in a tub. Affect observed in each case is stated in Column I. Possible reasons for the
observed affects are mentioned in Column II. Match the statements given in Column I with
those in Column II.

Column I Column II

Boat gets attracted towards the magnet Boat is fitted with a magnet with north pole
towards its head

Boat is not affected by the magnet Boat is fitted with a magnet with south pole
towards its head

Boat moved towards the magnet when north pole is Boat has a small magnet fixed along its
brought near its head length

Boat moves away from the magnet when north pole is Boat is made up of magnetic material
brought near its head

Boat floats without changing its direction Boat is made up of non-magnetic material
Solution:

Column I Column II

Boat gets attracted towards the magnet Boat is made up of magnetic material

Boat is not affected by the magnet Boat is made up of non-magnetic material

Boat moved towards the magnet when north pole is Boat is fitted with a magnet with south pole
brought near its head towards its head

Boat moves away from the magnet when north pole is Boat is fitted with a magnet with north pole
brought near its head towards its head

Boat floats without changing its direction Boat has a small magnet fixed along its length