Year 9 - Science
Electromagnets
Magnets and electromagnets
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores magnetism, including magnetic poles, fields, and Earth's magnetism, along with the principles of electromagnets and DC motors. It focuses on conducting precise scientific enquiries and identifying variables and emphasises accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how to make a magnet using an electric current.
Key Notes
- When there is an electric current in a wire, there is a magnetic field around the wire.
- When there is an electric current in a coil of wire, the magnetic field around each loop adds to make a stronger field.
- An electromagnet is made by wrapping a coil of wire around a core.
- An electromagnet is a magnet that can be turned on with an electric current, and turned off.
Vocabulary To Learn
- magnetic field: this exerts a force on magnets and magnetic materials
- coil: a wire wound round in loops and looks like a spring
- core: the centre of an electromagnet around which a wire is wound to make a coil
- turn: a single loop of wire in a coil
- electromagnet: a magnet made using a coil, a core and a power supply
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- A magnetic field is the same as the electric field around a charged object.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
When there is an electric current in a wire, there is a magnetic field around the wire. When there is an electric current in a coil of wire, the magnetic field around each loop adds to make a stronger field.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'magnetic field'
this exerts a force on magnets and magnetic materials. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: A magnetic field is the same as the electric field around a charged object. Correction: Demonstrate that a balloon with a static electric charge does not affect the magnet in a plotting compass.
More Lessons In This Unit
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