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alloy
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A uniform mixture of two or more materials. One of the materials must be a metal.
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alternating current
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Current that regularly reverses the direction of its flow.
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aluminum
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A lightweight, non-magnetic, metallic element that is silver-white in color. Aluminum is diamagnetic.
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axis
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An imaginary straight line that lies in the center of an object.
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brass
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An alloy or mixture of copper and zinc. Brass is diamagnetic.
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cobalt
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A tough, lustrous, silver-white metallic element that is highly magnetic.
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compass
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A tool for determining geographic direction that uses a magnetic needle as a pointer.
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conductor
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A material or element that allows free movement of electrons and therefore allows easy flow of electricity. Most conductors are metals.
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demagnetize
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To disrupt the regular pattern of aligned magnetic domains, which eliminates a material's attraction.
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diamagnetic
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A material or substance that is not magnetic.
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direct current
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Current that flows in one direction. Direct current does not reverse the direction of flow.
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electricity
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A form of energy created by the movement of electrons.
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electromagnet
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A powerful magnet that gains an attractive force only when current passes through it.
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ferromagnetic
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A material or substance that is highly magnetic, such as iron.
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generator
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A device that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy.
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geographic north
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The northernmost point on the earth that lies at the top axis of rotation. Also called true north.
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hydroelectric plant
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An electricity-generating facility that uses the mechanical motion of water to create power through magnetic induction.
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insulator
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A material that disrupts, inhibits, or prevents the transmission of sources of energy such as heat, light, and sound.
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iron
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A silver-white, metallic element that is highly magnetic.
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lines of flux
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A magnetic field's lines of force.
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lines of force
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The area in and around a magnet that exhibits the powers of attraction and repulsion.
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lodestone
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A rock with magnetic properties that attracts other magnetic materials such as iron.
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magnet
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A metallic object or substance that possesses an attractive force to other metals.
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magnetic axis
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The line of attractive force that runs through the center of the earth. The earth's magnetic axis differs slightly from its rotational axis.
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magnetic domain
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A group of atoms that have been aligned in parallel to the magnetic north and south.
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magnetic field
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A force of attraction that surrounds magnets and current-carrying conductors.
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magnetic induction
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The use of magnets to cause voltage in a conductor. Magnetic induction occurs whenever a conductor passes through magnetic lines of flux.
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magnetic north
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An area of magnetic attraction in the southern hemisphere near the geographic south pole. Compasses are designed to use this magnetic attraction in the south to point toward north.
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magnetism
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The power of attraction and repulsion that exists in materials. Iron is an example of a common magnetic material.
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magnetized
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To be made magnetic or made to attract other metals.
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manganese
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A grayish-white, metallic element that is not naturally magnetic but that can easily be magnetized. Manganese is grouped with the ferromagnetic materials.
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molecule
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A pair or group of atoms that are chemically bound together.
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motor
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A machine that converts one form of energy, such as electricity, into mechanical energy or motion.
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nickel
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A silver-white, metallic element that is highly magnetic. Nickel is often used in alloys.
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paramagnetic
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Any material that is not naturally magnetic but that can be made magnetic with some effort.
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permanent magnet
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A magnet that retains its attractive force once it is removed from a magnetic field.
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permeability
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A measure of a material's willingness to become magnetized.
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platinum
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A precious, grayish-white, metallic element that is paramagnetic.
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polarity
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A state of opposites. The north and south attractions of a magnet and the positive and negative charges in a circuit involve polarity.
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pole
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One of two ends of the axis of a sphere. Poles also refer to the opposite ends of a magnet.
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reluctance
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A material's resistance to becoming magnetized.
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residual magnetism
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The attractive force that exists in an object or substance after it has been removed from a magnetic field.
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rotational axis
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The center line on which a ball or sphere turns or rotates. The earth has a rotational axis.
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saturation
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A magnetic state in which the attractive strength of a magnet has reached its peak.
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titanium
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A strong, low-density, metallic element that is paramagnetic.
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true north
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The northernmost point on the earth that lies at the top axis of rotation. Also called geographic north.
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workholding device
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A device used to locate and hold a workpiece.
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