Even though we cannot see magnetic force fields with our eyes, we can devise a way to see what they look like. Magnetic force fields are curved in shape. Imagine that you have a handful of iron filings (filings are little chips of metal). If you scatter them on a piece of paper and place a strong magnet in the middle of them, the iron filings will move around to form into lines like the ones shown on the diagram. This is what the iron filings in the opening activity should have done.In order to understand why the iron filings line up into curved lines, remember induced magnetism. Each of the iron filings becomes a tiny little induced magnet. As the atoms inside each filing lines up with the magnet, the filings move around on the piece of paper. In order to orient themselves with the magnetic lines of force within the magnetic field, they fall into the pattern of the magnetic field. In this way, the iron filings allow you to see the invisible magnetic field and its lines of force!
Magnetic Force
Explain why the iron filings form curved lines?
The iron filings form curved lines because of induced magnetism. Each little filing becomes its own magnet and move around the piece of paper to orient themselves with the magnetic lines of the magnetic field.
