Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - SHS 1
MAGNETOSTATICS
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MAGNETOSTATICS
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Subject: Physics
Class: SHS 1
Term: 2nd Term
Week: 11
Grade code: 1.3.1.LI.1
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: 1.3.1.CS.1
Indicator code: 1.3.1.LI.1
Theme: ELECTRIC FIELD, MAGNETIC FIELD AND ELECTRONICS
Subtheme: MAGNETOSTATICS
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Welcome, students! Today, we are beginning a fascinating journey into the world of Magnetostatics. Magnetism is an invisible force that is all around us. From the simple magnets holding notes on a fridge at home to the powerful machines in our hospitals and industries, magnetism plays a vital role. In Ghana, we see its effects in the speakers that play our favourite highlife music, in the compasses that our fishermen use to navigate the sea, and even in the way some machines at the scrapyard in Agbogbloshie work. By understanding the basic principles of magnetism, we can better understand how many of the devices we use every day function.
2.1 What is Magnetism?
Magnetism is a natural force produced by moving electric charges. It is the force of attraction or repulsion between certain materials. A magnet is any object that produces a magnetic field. Materials that are strongly attracted to a magnet are called ferromagnetic materials. The most common examples are iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), and cobalt (Co). Think of a piece of iron, like a nail. Normally it is not a magnet. But if you bring a magnet close to it, the nail will be attracted. The study of magnetic fields created by stationary magnets is called Magnetostatics. 2.2 Magnetic Poles
Every magnet, no matter its shape, has two ends where the magnetic effect is strongest. These ends are called magnetic poles. North Pole (N-pole): If a magnet is freely suspended (e.g., hung by a thread from its centre), one end will always point towards the Earth's geographic North. This end is called the North-seeking pole, or simply the North pole. South Pole (S-pole): The other end, which points towards the Earth's geographic South, is called the South-seeking pole, or simply the South pole.
Key Difference: The fundamental difference between the two poles is the direction of the magnetic field lines, which we will discuss shortly. They are opposites, much like positive (+) and negative (-) charges in electrostatics. 2.3 The Fundamental Law of Magnetism