The New Childrens Encyclopedia

ELECTRICITY AND MAGNETISM

237

Magnetism

Whenever there is electricity, there is magnetism.

This mysterious, invisible force draws some metal

objects together or pushes them apart.

SCIENCE

WHAT CAUSES MAGNETISM?^

The same moving electrons that create

electricity also create magnetism. This

force acts through an invisible magnetic

field. You can see this field of force if

you scatter some iron filings around

a bar magnet.

 UNLIKE POLES ATTRACT
Push opposite poles together and
a powerful force of attraction
will snap the magnets together.

 LIKE POLES REPEL
Magnets have north and south
poles. If you push the same poles
together they repel each other.

Natural magnet Earth is a giant

natural magnet whose magnetic

field makes compass needles point

toward the magnetic North Pole.

Earth’s magnetic field extends

thousands of miles into space,

forming a vast area

known as the

magnetosphere.

Compass aligns with

the magnetic field of

the bar magnet.

Like poles push apart

Moving motor Electrons flowing through

a wire coil can make a magnet move in and

out of the coil. Electrical energy changes into

kinetic energy. This is how an electric motor

works. Electric motors power devices ranging

from computers to kitchen appliances.

Electromagnetism Magnetism

and electricity are united by the

force of electromagnetism. If

you move a magnet next to a

wire, electricity flows through

the wire. Similarly, whenever

electrons flow through a wire,

they create a magnetic field

around the wire.

 ELECTRICITY flowing

through the loops of electric wire

inside an electromagnet generate

a powerful magnetic field to lift

scrap metal.

A motor turns

the blades of a

food processor

NS

MAGNETIC NORTH POLE MAGNETIC SOUTH POLE

N

N N

S

SS