Download What are magnetic fields?

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Lesson 1 Summary
Use with pp. 43–47
Lesson 1: What are magnetic fields?
Vocabulary
magnetism a force that acts on moving electric charges and on magnetic
materials that are near a magnet
magnetic field the space around a magnet in which magnetic forces
operate
magnetic poles the two ends of a magnet, called the north magnetic pole
and the south magnetic pole
Magnetism
Magnetic Poles
Magnets are objects that attract iron,
steel, and some other metals. Magnetism
is a force. Magnetism is caused by electric
charges that move. Magnetism pushes or
pulls magnetic materials that are near
a magnet. Lodestone is a mineral that is
magnetic.
Magnets can hold photos and papers to
a refrigerator door. Magnets can also move
big, heavy trains. There is a kind of train
called a maglev train. Electric current flows
through the train tracks. This produces a
very strong magnetic force. The magnetic
force lifts and moves the whole train. Now
that’s a strong magnet!
Many iron filings come together at the
ends of the magnet. The magnetic field
is strongest at the ends of the magnet.
The two ends of a magnet are called the
magnetic poles. Every magnet has a
north magnetic pole that seeks to point
north. Every magnet also has a south
magnetic pole that seeks to point south.
Every magnet has a space around it
called a magnetic field. Magnetic forces
operate inside the magnetic field. The
magnetic field goes out in all directions
from a magnet. Magnets with different
shapes have magnetic fields with different
shapes.
You cannot see a magnetic field. It is
invisible. But you can use iron filings, or
tiny pieces of iron, to see the shape of a
magnetic field. When iron filings are near
a magnet, the filings line up. They arrange
in patterns. The magnetic field is the space
where the filings line up.
Chapter 2, Lesson 1 Summary
You learned about electric charges in
Chapter 1. Magnetic poles work the same
way as electric charges. Two magnetic poles
that are the same are called like poles. Like
poles repel each other. If two magnetic
poles are unlike, they attract each other.
When you put a north pole near a north
pole, or you put a south pole near a south
pole, they repel each other, or push apart.
But when you put a north pole near a
south pole, they attract, or pull toward
each other.
Broken Magnets
What happens when you break a
magnet into two pieces? You get two
magnets. But each new magnet has a north
magnetic pole and a south magnetic pole.
Every magnet has a north pole and a south
pole. You cannot have one kind of pole
without the other kind!
Intervention Study Guide
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Magnetic Field
How Magnetic Poles Behave
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Lesson 1 Questions
Use with pp. 43–47
Lesson 1 Questions
1. What is the force that lifts up and moves a maglev train?
2. What is a magnetic field?
3. What happens when you put the north pole of one magnet near the
north pole of another magnet?
© Pearson Education, Inc. 4
4. What happens when you put the north pole of one magnet near the
south pole of another magnet?
Intervention Study Guide
Chapter 2, Lesson 1 Questions