Properties of magnet

Properties of magnet

The name magnet is derived from magnetite and it represents all materials which attract iron. They were called leading stones or lodestones. Pieces of magnetite point in the same direction (north- south) when freely suspended.. The Chinese were the first to use them as direction indicators.
Iron filling form clusters of iron filings at the two ends of the bar magnet and no iron filing is attracted at the centre (shown in fig below). Hence we can say that magnetic force is strongest at the two ends of the magnet.
All magnets come to rest in the north-south direction when freely suspended. The pole facing north is called the north pole, and the pole facing south is called the south pole. From the above, we learn that magnets have the following properties :
1. Property of attraction : magnets attract iron and opposite poles of other magnets.
2. Property of repulsion : magnets repel like poles of other magnets.
Property ofdirection : Freely suspended magnets come to rest in the north -south direction.
Only repulsion is the sure test for a magnet. A magnet attracts pieces of magnetic substances and unlike poles of other magnets; but it repels like poles of other magnets. So to test if a piece of iron is a magnet, bring both its ends one by one near one pole of a magnet. If one end is attracted and the other is repelled the piece of iron is a magnet. If both ends are attracted it is not a magnet. Around every magnet there is a region in which the influence of the magnet can be felt. This region is called the magnetic field of the magnet. Stronger magnets have greater magnetic field.
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