LESSON 12.
MAGNETIC PROPERTIES
Intended Learning Outcomes
After the completion of the chapter, students will be able to:
1. Write and explain magnetic properties of materials
Introduction
Magnetism – phenomenon by which materials assert an attractive or repulsive force or
influence on other materials
Iron, steels and the naturally occurring mineral lodestone are well-known examples of
materials that exhibit magnetic properties
Magnetic forces – generated by moving electrically charged particles
Magnetic dipoles – analogous to electric dipoles; as small bar magnets composed of
north and south poles instead of positive and negative electric charges
Magnetic Flux – group of force lines going from north pole to south pole of a magnet;
unit is the Weber (Wb)
Magnetic Field Strength (H) – also known as magnetic field intensity; externally applied
magnetic field designated by H; dependence on number of turns, applied current, and
coil length
H= ¿ where N ( number of turns ) , I ( applied current ) ,l(coil length)
l
Magnetic Flux Density (B) – also known as magnetic induction or magnetic field,
denoted by B, represents the magnitude of the internal field strength within the
substance that is subjected to an H field; the unit for B is Tesla (or Weber per square
meter); space around a magnetic pole or magnetized bodyx`x`
Both B and H are field vectors, being characterized not only by magnitude, but also by
direction in space.
ϕ
B=μH B=
A
The parameter μ is called permeability – ratio of magnetic field B to the magnetizing
force H; property of the specific medium through which the H field passes and in which B
is measured
Bo=μ o H
μo (permeability of vacuum) – universal constant, which has a value of 1.257 x 1 0−6 H /m
μ
μr =
μo
μr (relative permeability) – unitless; measure of the degree to which the material can be
magnetized
Magnetization is defined by the expression
B=μ o H + μ o M
Origin of Magnetic Moments
Magnetic moments arise from electron motions and the spin of electrons
Each electron in an atom has magnetic moments that originate from two sources. One is
related to its orbital motion around the nucleus; being a moving charge, an electron may
be considered to be a small current loop, generating a very small magnetic field, and
having a magnetic moment along its axis of rotation, as schematically illustrated in
Figure 20.4a.
Each electron may also be thought of as spinning around an axis (revolve around itself);
the other magnetic moment originates from this electron spin, which is directed along the
spin axis as shown in Figure 20.4b. Spin magnetic moments may be only in an “up”
direction or in an antiparallel “down” direction. Thus, each electron in an atom may be
thought of as being a small magnet having permanent orbital and spin magnetic
moments.
Type of Magnetism
Diamagnetic Paramagnetic Ferromagnetic &
Ferrimagnetic
Very low repellent effect Very low attractive Very strong attractive effect
(domains turn away with the (domains align with the (domains easily align with the
magnetizing force H) magnetizing force H) magnetizing force H)
With relative permeability With relative permeability With relative permeability
less than 1 slightly greater than 1 very much greater than 1
Common materials: Bismuth, Common materials: Common materials: iron,
Antimony, Copper, Silver, aluminum, chromium, nickel or cobalt, ALNICO,
Gold, Zinc and Mercury manganese, platinum, and permalloys, ferrites, and
(Insulators) carbon magnetic oxides
(Semiconductors) (Conductors)
Ferromagnetic Ferrimagnetic
All domains align in parallel Some domains are anti-parallel
Common materials are mostly Common materials re mostly
conductors: iron, nickel or cobalt, insulators: Ferrites, and other
ALNICO, Permalloys, and steel. magnetic oxides that are used as
Including powered iron core used core material in coils operating at
in some radio frequency coil microwave frequency
Types of Magnets
Permanent Magnets
o Most common type of magnets (i.e. magnets on refrigerators)
o Once magnetized they retain a certain degree of magnetism
o Examples of Permanent Magnets:
Neodymium Iron Born and Samarium Cobalt – strongest types of
magnets; very difficult to demagnetize
Alnico – compound made of aluminum, nickel and cobalt; commonly used
magnets and first became popular; least affected by temperature
o Demagnetization Method:
Heat – heating magnet until it is red hot makes it loose its magnetic
properties
Contact with another magnet – stroking one magnet with another in a
random fashion, will demagnetize the magnet being stroked
Hammering – loosen the magnet’s atoms from their magnetic attraction
Temporary Magnets
o Are those that simply act like permanent magnets when they are within a strong
magnetic field
o They loose their magnetism when the field disappears
o Example: paper clips and iron nails
Electromagnets
o Extremely strong magnets
o Produced by placing a metal core inside a wire carrying an electric current
The electricity of the current produces a magnetic field
The strength of the magnet is directly proportional to the strength of the
current and the number of coils of wire
o Electromagnets can be switched on and off, a very useful characteristic in so
many way applications
Superconductors
o Considered as the strongest magnets
o No need for metal core
o It is constructed from a coil of wires from special metal alloys which become
superconductors when cooled to very low temperatures
Magnetic Hysteresis
When a ferromagnetic material is subjected to a magnetizing force created by an
alternating current, the B-H cure when plotted will form a close loop, a called hysteresis
loop.
Hysteresis is a characteristic of a magnetic material whereby a change in magnetization
lags the application of the magnetic field intensity.
Retentivity is the ability of a material, once magnetized, to maintain a magnetized state
without the presence of a magnetizing force
Hard Magnet (Alnico), Hard Magnet (Steel), Soft Magnet
