Magnetic Forces and Fields

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Magnet Noun

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[mag-net]

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Magnet

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A material or object that produces a magnetic field, allowing it to attract certain metals like iron.

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Example: This image shows that magnets have north and south poles, and that similar poles (North-North) create a repulsive magnetic force, pushing each other apart.

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Magnetic Poles Noun

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[mag-net-ik pohls]

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Magnetic Poles

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The two regions of a magnet, designated north and south, where the magnetic force is the strongest.

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Example: This diagram shows a bar magnet's North (N) and South (S) poles, with arrows illustrating the magnetic field lines flowing from north to south.

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Magnetic Force Noun

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[mag-net-ik fors]

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Magnetic Force

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The noncontact force of attraction or repulsion that arises between electrically charged particles because of their motion.

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Example: This image shows that the magnetic force causes opposite poles of two magnets (North and South) to pull toward and attract each other.

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Magnetic Monopole Noun

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[mag-net-ik mon-uh-pohl]

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Magnetic Monopole

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A hypothetical particle that is a magnet with only one magnetic pole, such as an isolated north pole.

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Example: This image shows that cutting a magnet always creates two smaller magnets, each with a north and south pole, proving single magnetic poles (monopoles) don't exist.

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Magnetic Moment Noun

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[mag-net-ik moh-ment]

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Magnetic Moment

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A vector quantity representing the magnetic strength and orientation of a magnet, atom, or subatomic particle.

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Example: A magnet's strength and direction, its magnetic moment, creates an invisible magnetic field shown by lines flowing from the North (N) to the South (S) pole.

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Orbital Magnetic Moment Noun

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[or-bi-tuhl mag-net-ik moh-ment]

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Orbital Magnetic Moment

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The magnetic moment that is generated by the orbital motion of an electron around an atom's nucleus.

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Example: An electron orbiting a nucleus acts like a tiny loop of electric current, creating a magnetic field called the orbital magnetic moment.

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Spin Magnetic Moment Noun

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[spin mag-net-ik moh-ment]

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Spin Magnetic Moment

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The magnetic moment generated by the intrinsic angular momentum, or spin, of an electron on its own axis.

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Example: An electron's spin creates a tiny magnetic field. This field can either align with an external magnetic field (spin up) or against it (spin down).

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Permanent Magnet Noun

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[pur-muh-nent mag-net]

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Permanent Magnet

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A material that retains its magnetic properties and produces its own persistent magnetic field without an external source.

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Example: A permanent bar magnet creates a persistent magnetic field around it, with field lines flowing from the North pole to the South pole.

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Ferromagnetic Adjective

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[fer-oh-mag-net-ik]

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Ferromagnetic

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Describing a class of materials, like iron, that are strongly attracted to magnets and can be magnetized.

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Example: This image shows how a ferromagnetic material, like the iron filings, is strongly attracted to a magnet, arranging itself along the invisible magnetic field lines.

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Nonmagnetic Adjective

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[non-mag-net-ik]

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Nonmagnetic

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Describing materials that do not exhibit significant magnetic properties and do not interact with magnetic fields.

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Example: This image shows a group of non-magnetic objects, such as a plastic ruler, glass jar, and wooden chopsticks, which are materials not attracted to a magnet.