Unit 8 Reflection

Unit 8 was by far the most attractive unit yet. It was all about magnets, magnetic fields, and how we can use them in relation to electric fields. Paul G. Hewitt defines magnetic force in this way:

1. Between magnets, it is the attraction of unlike magnetic poles for each other and the repulsion between like magnetic poles.
2. Between a magnetic field (the region of magnetic influence around a magnetic pole or moving charged particle) and a moving charged particle, it is a deflecting force due to the motion of the particle: The deflecting force is perpendicular to the velocity of the particle and perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. This force is greatest when the charged particle moves perpendicular to the field lines and is smallest (zero) when it moves parallel to the field lines. 

Thanks Mr. Hewitt!

After we learn that stuff we can begin to apply these concepts to real life. So, when a paper clip becomes magnetized by a magnet what is exactly happening? First off it is useful to know that magnetic fields always travel from north to south inside of a magnet.
 


 
The paperclip has charged particles inside of it and once it comes close to the magnet the domain of the paperclip aligns with the poles allowing it to become magnetized. The paperclip will become magnetized whether it comes into contact with the north or south pole because the domain will just shift.
There are things called electromagnets which is just a magnet that is produced by electric current. Usually in the form of a wire coil with a piece of iron inside the coil. This also goes along with the fact that current carrying wires inside a magnet field feel a force. Electromagnetic induction is the induction of a voltage when a magnetic field changes with time.
We used these concepts in the motors we built, which you can read in my previous motor blog @dorianakamrphysics.blogger.com
Transformers and Generators come next. As I learned from my fellow physicist Paul Jordan, a generator is basically a reverse motor. It uses mechanical energy to create electrical energy by turning a coil of wire within a magnetic field. A transformer either lessons or increases the voltage to an appliance using coils of wire. But I think Wes and Jared explained this better.

 Equations from video: Primary Voltage/# of coils = Secondary Voltage/ # of coils (for transformers) ; Power in = Power out

 

The things that I found difficult in this section was explaining the magnetic field around the earth and why the cosmic rays are stronger at the poles. Just now have I grasped then fact that it is because the magnetic force is stronger there and they can not enter on the sides, because the magnetic field runs parallel to the earth. The problem solving skills came in we had to find how many coils were in the primary and secondary coils of a transformer. It helped me learn how to better cross multiply. This unit applies to real life because things such as computers use transformers, and credit card scanners use electromagnetic induction.