science

• Electromagnetic waves are transverse waves that travel through space at the speed of light (300 million meters per second). They have no mass or charge so they do not interact with matter unless it is charged or magnetic.
• Permanent magnet


  • Always magnetic, has an invisible magnetic field, certain materials like iron feel a magnetic force
• Magnetic force

  Can be either an attraction or a repulsion
• Magnetic field

  The region around a magnet where a force can be felt, magnetic materials are attracted to the magnet when they enter this region
• Permanent magnets


  • Can come in different shapes and sizes, have two different ends called poles (north and south)
• Poles

  The ends of a magnet where the magnetic field is strongest, can be north or south
• Magnetic materials

  • Feel a force from a magnetic field, can attract a magnet without physical contact, examples include iron, steel, cobalt, nickel
• Breaking a magnet in two results in each half still having two poles - north and south
• Materials like iron, steel, cobalt, nickel are magnetic, while materials like copper, aluminium, sand, wood, and plastic are not magnetic
• Some coins can be tested with a magnet to determine their material composition and age
• 5p and 10p coins made before January 2012 are not magnetic, while those made after January 2012 are magnetic due to a change in material composition
• Objects like a steel nut are magnetic, while objects like a wooden spoon and a balloon are not magnetic
• Magnetic materials and magnets

  Pull towards each other or attract without physical contact
• Magnetic interactions are always attracted towards a
• Steel is a magnetic material
• The spoon is made from wood
• Wood is not a magnetic material
• The balloon is made from rubber
• Rubber is not a magnetic material
• Magnetic materials

  • Always attracted towards a magnet
• Bringing a north pole and a north pole together

  Magnets push away from each other or repel
• Bringing a north pole and a south pole together

  They will attract
• Bringing two south poles together

  They will repel
• Earth's core contains liquid iron which moves around
• Iron is magnetic so the liquid iron causes Earth to have a magnetic field
• A compass is a device with a magnetised needle that points North by lining up with the Earth’s magnetic field
• The needle of a compass turns until its own magnetic field lines up with the Earth’s magnetic field, always pointing North
• The north pole of a compass points towards the south pole of a magnet when lining up with the magnetic field
• Earth’s north pole is a magnetic south
• Earth’s magnetic field protects us from charged particles thrown out from the Sun
• Earth’s magnetic field deflects charged particles thrown out from the Sun
• Close to the poles, charged particles are able to reach the atmosphere, causing the air to light up in a display called the Aurorae
• In the northern hemisphere, the display is called the northern lights or Aurora borealis
• In the southern hemisphere, the display is called the southern lights or Aurora australis
• People travel to Norway, Iceland, and Canada to see the northern lights
• At certain times, the northern lights can also be seen in Scotland
• The closer you are to the poles, the better the view is of the Aurorae
• This display is caused by magnetic fields
• Permanent magnet

  • Always magnetic, has an invisible magnetic field, certain materials like iron feel a magnetic force
• Magnetic force can be

  Attraction or repulsion