Definition of
magnetism:
It is the ability of a certain material to
attract or repel other materials. It is a force field that acts on some materials only but not on all materials.
What is a magnet?
It is an object or material that attracts
certain metals, such as iron, nickel and cobalt. It can also attract or repel
another magnet. All magnets have North-seeking (N) and South-seeking (S) poles.
When magnets are placed near each other, opposite poles attract and like poles
repel each other.
Magnets that forms naturally are called natural magnets,
a lode stone, a species of iron ore (Ferrosoferric or magnetic ore, Fe3O4)
which has the property of attracting iron and some of its ores, and when
suspended, points to the poles.
A bar or mass of steel or iron to which the peculiar
properties of the lodestone have been imparted, called, in distinction from the
lodestone, an artificial magnet.
There are a few materials which are naturally magnetic,
and have the potential to become magnets. Some of these materials are:
Iron
Hematite
Magnetite
Ionised gas
Fundamental
Properties of Magnets
I.A magnet attracts iron, its alloy and other magnetic
substances.
II.It has the property of direction, if the magnet is
freely suspended, it always points to north and south.
III.It has two poles, the pole which indicates towards
geographical North is known as North pole and the one which points towards
South is known as South pole.
IV.The pole always exists in PAIR, one isolated pole CANNOT
exist.
V.It induces the opposite polarity as soon as the magnetic
materials are brought near it, i.e. it induces the magnetic property onto
other.
VI.LIKE poles will REPEL each other, when brought facing
each other. While UNLIKE poles will ATTRACT each other when brought close
together.
