Fun With Magnets

The materials which get attracted towards a magnet are magnetic materials. For example-iron, cobalt etc. Materials which are not attracted towards a magnet are non-magnetic materials. For example-plastic, glass etc.

Magnetic compass can be used to know about the directions. Magnet can be used to separate magnetic materials such as iron from the non-magnetic ones.

Magnetic compass is a small box with glass cover. It consists of a magnetised needle, which rotates freely and indicates north south direction when comes to rest.

The two ends of the bar magnet represents its two poles.

a) Magnet has two poles north and South Pole.
b) Same poles of two magnets repel each other.
c) Opposite poles of two magnets attract each other.

When a bar magnet moves or rotates freely, it comes to rest in north south direction. This is the principle on which magnetic compass works.

Bar magnets should be kept in pairs with their unlike poles on the same side. They must be separated by piece of wood. For horse shoe magnet one should keep a piece of iron across the poles.

A soft metal core made into a magnet by the passage of electric current through a coil surrounding it.

For horse shoe magnet one should keep a piece of iron across the poles.

Refer answer 7.

Magnets lose their property if they are heated, hammered, dropped from some height or not stored properly.

Hang up the magnet by a cotton thread so that it hangs freely. When it comes to rest, we note that magnet is lying in north-south direction.

Four poles will be formed. Two north and two south poles.

Magnetic material-iron, cobalt
Non-magnetic material-plastic, rubber, glass, mirror