magnetic fields

• what is a magnetic field?

  region around a magnet where a force acts on another magnet or on a magnetic material
• four examples of magnetic materials:

  • iron
  • steel
  • cobalt
  • nickel
• what is always the force between a magnet and a magnetic material?

  attractive
• what happens to the strength of a magnetic field if you move closer to the poles of the magnet?

  the magnetic field strength will increase, as the field is strongest at the poles of a magnet
• what direction does a magnetic field point?

  • from the north pole to the south pole
  • the direction of the magnetic field at any point is given by the direction of the force that would act on another north pole placed at that point
• what does a magnetic compass contain?

  a small bar magnet
• why does the needle of a compass always point north?

  Earth generates its own magnetic field , which shows that the inside core of the Earth must be magnetic