Magnets and Electromagnetism: Magnetic Forces and Fields

Upon viewing the Magnets and Electromagnets video series, students will be able to do the following: Define a magnet as a material that attracts iron and materials containing iron. Explain that magnets have a north pole and a south pole where its magnetic fields are strongest. Explain that magnets exert a force on each other, referred to as magnetic force. Describe a fundamental rule of magnetic poles: like poles repel each other and unlike poles attract each other. Understand that every magnet is surrounded by a magnetic field, which exerts an invisible force on magnetic materials near it. Understand that Earth is surrounded by an enormous magnetic field, which is strongest at the Earth's poles. Define the magnetosphere as the region around Earth where its magnetic field is located. Explain how it protects Earth from solar wind. Explain that electricity can create magnetism and magnetism can create electricity. Understand that a solenoid is a long coil of wire that produces a magnetic field when electricity flows through it. Define electromagnetic induction as the process of generating an electric current by passing a wire through a magnetic field. Understand that generators rely on electromagnetic induction to produce most of the electricity we use in our homes.