MAGNETISM LAB

Objectives:

● Predict the direction of the magnet field for different locations around a bar magnet and an
electromagnet
● Compare and contrast bar magnets and electromagnets
● Identify the characteristics of electromagnets that are variable and what effects each variable has
on the magnetic field's strength
● Relate magnetic field strength of a magnet to distance from the magnet
● Relate magnetic field strength of an electromagnet to distance, current and number of loops

Materials Required:
● Magnets and Electromagnets simulation:
https://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/legacy/magnets-and-electromagnets

Introduction:

Any object that produces a magnetic field and interacts with other magnetic fields is a magnet. Three
general types of magnets exist: permanent magnets, temporary magnets and electromagnets. Permanent
magnets, made from materials such as iron, retain their magnetic quality over long periods of time.
Temporary magnets lose their magnetism quickly. Electromagnets use electric current to generate a
magnetic field.

The magnetic strength of a magnet is maximum at a point nearer to the ends of the magnet. These points
of a magnet are called magnetic poles. Each magnet does have two poles and these are the north pole and
south pole. Magnetic field lines of the magnetic field diverge from the positive pole (also called the north
pole) and sink into the negative (south) pole. Opposite poles attract, and like poles repel each other.

The world's biggest magnet is, in fact, the Earth. The Earth's solid iron-nickel inner core spinning in the
liquid iron-nickel outer core behaves like a dynamo, generating a magnetic field. The weak magnetic field
acts like a bar magnet tilted at about 11 degrees from the Earth's axis. The north end of this magnetic field
is the south pole of the bar magnet. Since opposite magnetic fields attract each other, the north end of a
magnetic compass points to the south end of the Earth's magnetic field located near the north pole (to put
it another way, the Earth's south magnetic pole is actually located near the geographic north pole, though
you'll often see that south magnetic pole labeled as the north magnetic pole).
Activity 1: Magnetic Field due to a Permanent Magnet
 1. Start the Magnets and Electromagnets PhET simulation, Bar Magnet tab, and explore it. Make
sure that you check the Show Field box. Use the slider to increase the field strength to 100%.

2. If you place a compass near the magnet, what will the compass do? Why?
The compass will have pull swords the opposite side, because of the rule opposites attract

3. Select “Show Compass”. Move the compass to several positions around the magnet. What do you
notice? I noticed that my theory is correct.

4. What do you suppose the compass needles drawn all over the screen tell you? The compass
needles all over the screen are all the positions the needle would be in around the screen.

5. Move the compass slowly along a semicircular path above the bar magnet until you placed it on
the opposite side of the bar magnet. Describe what happens to the compass needle. The compass moved
so it was flat and the opposites were pointing in different direction.

6. What are the similarities between the compass needle (magnetism) and a test charge (electricity)?
They bothe are used to tell the magnetic direction in both simulations

7. What happens when you click “flip polarity” and repeat the steps above?
The direction in all the arrows around the magnet are flipped

8. Unselect the “Show Compass” and click on “Show Field Meter” boxes.

9. Move the Magnetic Field Meter and position the cross on the left side of magnet, along the axis
of the magnet. When the cross is in the desired position the y-component of the magnetic field is
zero.

10. Along the axis of the magnet and at the center of each compass needle starting 5 arbitrary units to
the left of the magnet, record the value of the magnetic field strength (��). Move one compass
needle to the right and record the value of ��. Repeat until you’ve completed the Table 1
 below. NOTE: Be sure to measure all of your values along the axis of the coil.
Table 1:
Meter position (Meter B (G)
(arbitrary units) position)2(arbi
trary units)2

-5 25 0.89

-4 16 1.42

-3 9 2.59

-2 4 5.89

-1 1 18

0 (left pole) 0 (left pole) 127

0 (right pole) 0 (right pole) 41

1 1 8.26

2 4 8

3 9 3.4

4 16 1.7

5 25 1.05

Activity 2: Magnetic Field due to an Electromagnet

11. Select the Electromagnet tab and explore it. Select the DC current source, and use the slider to
increase its emf to 10 V. For the number of loops, select 1. Make sure that you check the Show
Field, Show Compass, and Show Electrons boxes.

12. Move the compass to several positions around the coil. What do you notice?
The compass still acts the same way as if near a magnet.
13. Based on your observations, summarize the similarities between the bar magnet and the coil.
That both the north and south side still attract the different points of the compass

14. Unselect the “Show Compass” and click on “Show Field Meter” boxes.

15. Move the Magnetic Field Meter and position the cross on the left side of coil, along the axis of
the coil. When the cross is in the desired position the y-component of the magnetic field is
zero.
16. Along the axis of the coil and at the center of each compass needle starting 5 arbitrary units to the
left of the coil, record the value of the magnetic field strength (��). Move one compass needle to
the right and record the value of ��. Repeat until you’ve completed the Table 2 below. NOTE:
Be sure to measure all of your values along the axis of the coil.

Table 2:
Meter (Meter position)2 (Meter position)2 B (G)
position (arbitrary units)2 (arbitrary units)2
(arbitrary left side of the coil right side of the coil
units)

0 0 0 75

1 1 1 20

2 4 4 6

3 9 9 2

4 16 16 1.5

5 25 25 0.5