Magnets and magnetic fields: JAMB Physics Past Questions and Answers

What the JAMB syllabus covers in Magnets and magnetic fields

Our summary: Magnets, the fields around magnets and currents, and the earth's magnetic field.

• Natural and artificial magnets
• Magnetic properties of soft iron and steel
• Methods of making magnets and demagnetization
• Concept of magnetic field
• Magnetic field of a permanent magnet
• Magnetic field round a straight current carrying conductor, circular wire and solenoid
• Properties of the earth's magnetic field (North and south poles, magnetic meridian and angle of dip and declination.)
• Flux and flux density
• Variation of magnetic field intensity over the earth's surface
• Applications (Earth's magnetic field in navigation and mineral exploration.)

Objectives

• give examples of natural and artificial magnets;
• differentiate between the magnetic properties of soft iron and steel;
• identify the various methods of making magnets and demagnetizing magnets;
• describe how to keep a magnet from losing its magnetism;
• determine the flux pattern of an isolated magnet;
• determine the flux pattern exhibited when two magnets are placed together pole to pole;
• determine the flux of a current carrying conductor, circular wire and solenoid including the polarity of the solenoid;
• determine the flux pattern of a magnet placed in the earth's magnetic fields;
• identify the magnetic elements of the earth's flux;
• determine the variation of earth's magnetic field on the earth's surface;
• examine the applications of the earth's magnetic field.

Syllabus content © The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (UTME).