Magnetic Fields Flashcards
All 7 cards in this deck
What is a magnetic field?
The region around a magnet where a force acts on another magnet or on a magnetic material.
Which way do magnetic field lines point?
From the north (seeking) pole of the magnet to the south (seeking) pole.
How is the direction of the magnetic field at a point defined?
It is the direction of the force that would act on another north pole placed at that point.
How does the strength of a magnetic field depend on position around a bar magnet?
It is strongest at the poles and gets weaker as distance from the magnet increases.
What does the spacing of the magnetic field lines in a field pattern tell you?
The closer together the lines, the stronger the field.
What are the steps to plot the magnetic field pattern of a magnet using a plotting compass?
e.g. a bar magnet on a sheet of paper
- Draw round the magnet, place the compass near one pole and mark a dot at each end of the needle.
- Move the compass so its tail is on the last dot, and mark a new dot at its tip; repeat.
- Join the dots in a smooth line with an arrow from north to south.
When plotting a bar magnet's field with a compass, how do you get the whole field pattern rather than one line?
Repeat the chain of dots starting from several different points around the magnet.