Fig. 22.
The little end-piece is called the keeper, or armature; it should always be kept in place when the magnet is not in use. The magnet itself is made of steel, while the armature is made of soft iron. Steel retains magnetism for a long time, while soft iron loses it almost instantly. The ends of the magnet are called its poles, and nearly all the strength of the magnet seems to reside at the poles, the curved part having no attraction for outside bodies. One of the poles of the magnet is marked with a line, or with the letter N. This is called the north pole of the magnet, the other being its south pole.
27. Bar Magnets are straight magnets. Fig. 21 shows a round bar magnet. The screw in the end is for use in the telephone, described later.
28. Compound Magnets. When several thin steel magnets are riveted together, a compound magnet is formed. These can be made with considerable strength. Fig. 22 shows a compound horseshoe magnet. Fig. 23 shows a form of compound bar magnet used in telephones. The use of the coil of wire will be explained later. A thick piece of steel can not be magnetized through and through. In the compound magnet we have the effect of a thick magnet practically magnetized through and through.
Fig. 23.
29. Magnetic and Diamagnetic Bodies. Iron, and substances containing iron, are the ones most readily attracted by a magnet. Iron is said to be magnetic. Some substances, like nickel, for example, are visibly attracted by very strong magnets only. Strange as it may seem, some substances are actually repelled by strong magnets; these are called diamagnetic bodies. Brass, copper, zinc, etc., are not visibly affected by a magnet. Magnetism will act through paper, glass, copper, lead, etc.
