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