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Physics

Key Terms

PhysicsKey Terms

Key Terms

Curie temperature
well-defined temperature for ferromagnetic materials above which they cannot be magnetized
domain
region within a magnetic material in which the magnetic poles of individual atoms are aligned
electric motor
device that transforms electrical energy into mechanical energy
electromagnet
device that uses electric current to make a magnetic field
electromagnetism
study of electric and magnetic phenomena
emf
rate at which energy is drawn from a source per unit current flowing through a circuit
ferromagnetic
material such as iron, cobalt, nickel, or gadolinium that exhibits strong magnetic effects
generator
device that transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy
induction
rate at which energy is drawn from a source per unit current flowing through a circuit
magnetic dipole
term that describes magnets because they always have two poles: north and south
magnetic field
directional lines around a magnetic material that indicates the direction and magnitude of the magnetic force
magnetic flux
component of the magnetic field perpendicular to the surface area through which it passes and multiplied by the area
magnetic pole
part of a magnet that exerts the strongest force on other magnets or magnetic material
magnetized
material that is induced to be magnetic or that is made into a permanent magnet
north pole
part of a magnet that orients itself toward the geographic North Pole of Earth
permanent magnet
material that retains its magnetic behavior for a long time, even when exposed to demagnetizing influences
right-hand rule
rule involving curling the right-hand fingers from one vector to another; the direction in which the right thumb points is the direction of the resulting vector
solenoid
uniform cylindrical coil of wire through which electric current is passed to produce a magnetic field
south pole
part of a magnet that orients itself toward the geographic South Pole of Earth
transformer
device that transforms voltages from one value to another
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