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Plotting magnetic fields

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Notes de leçon

Magnetic Fields and Compasses

  • Iron filings show the shape of a magnetic field but not its direction.
  • A plotting compass is a small bar magnet that is free to rotate.
  • The north pole of the compass needle points towards magnetic south.
  • To plot a field: place a bar magnet on paper, move a plotting compass around, mark the needle direction at each position, then join the arrows to show field lines.
  • Compasses are also used for navigation.

Earth's Magnetic Field

  • Earth's outer core is made of molten iron and nickel, producing a magnetic field.
  • The field shape is similar to that of a bar magnet.
  • The geographic North Pole is near (but not exactly at) Earth's magnetic south pole.
  • A compass needle points towards magnetic south, which is near the geographic North Pole.

Key Facts and Questions

  • True or false: a compass points towards Earth's magnetic north. False (it points to magnetic south).
  • True or false: a compass can be used for navigation. True.
  • True or false: the geographic North Pole is near Earth's magnetic south pole. True.
  • A compass is made of a small bar magnet (magnetised material).
  • The Earth's outer core is made of iron and nickel; the third magnetic metal is cobalt.
  • A compass shows direction of the field, unlike iron filings which only show shape.
  • Electronic devices produce magnetic fields that can deflect the compass needle, giving false readings.
  • The magnetic field is strongest at the poles (field lines are closest together there).
  • Without Earth's magnetic field, compasses would not work for navigation because there would be no consistent direction to point.

Using a plotting compass to trace magnetic field lines around a bar magnet. The compass needle aligns with the field direction (N pole points away from magnet's N pole).

Plotting Magnetic Field LinesNSCompass

Earth's magnetic field resembles a bar magnet. The geographic North Pole is near the magnetic south pole, so a compass needle (north pole) points toward geographic north.

Earth's magnetic fieldgeographic N (magnetic S)geographic S

Diapos

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Questions d'entraînement

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  1. 1.What does a plotting compass consist of?

    Easy
    • AA small bar magnet free to rotate
    • BA needle made of plastic
    • CA piece of iron filing
    • DA liquid crystal display
  2. 2.Which pole of a plotting compass points towards magnetic south?

    Easy
    • ANorth pole
    • BSouth pole
    • CBoth poles
    • DNeither pole
  3. 3.What is the Earth's outer core made of?

    Easy
    • AMolten iron and nickel
    • BSolid rock
    • CLiquid water
    • DMolten aluminium
  4. 4.Which of the following is NOT a magnetic metal?

    Easy
    • ACopper
    • BIron
    • CNickel
    • DCobalt
  5. 5.What is an advantage of using a plotting compass over iron filings to investigate a magnetic field?

    Easy
    • AIt shows the direction of the field
    • BIt is cheaper
    • CIt shows the shape of the field more clearly
    • DIt works without a magnet
  6. 6.Why should a compass not be used near an electronic device?

    Easy
    • AThe device's magnetic field will affect the compass reading
    • BThe compass will damage the device
    • CThe compass will run out of battery
    • DThe device's electric field will repel the compass
  7. 7.Where is Earth's magnetic field strongest?

    Easy
    • AAt the poles
    • BAt the equator
    • CIn the middle of the oceans
    • DIn the atmosphere
  8. 8.If Earth had no magnetic field, could compasses be used for navigation?

    Medium
    • ANo, because compasses rely on Earth's magnetic field
    • BYes, because compasses use the stars
    • CYes, because compasses use the Sun
    • DNo, because compasses would point to geographic north

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