Magnetism
This force causes materials to attract or repel each other.
What is magnetism?
This exists around a wire only when current is flowing through it.
What is an electromagnetic field?
This term describes the process of generating electricity using magnetism.
What is induction?
This occurs when a magnetic field collapses through its own conductor after a circuit is turned off.
What is self-induction?
This is the ability to temporarily store voltage.
What is capacitance?
These are groups of molecules that must align for a material to become magnetic.
What are magnetic domains?
Wrapping a wire into this shape increases the strength of the magnetic field.
What is a coil?
For induction to occur, a magnetic field and conductor must do this relative to each other.
What is move?
Circuits containing this component are most prone to voltage spikes.
What is a coil?
The insulating material between capacitor plates is called this.
What is a dielectric?
Iron, steel, and cobalt fall into this special category of magnetic materials.
What are ferromagnetic materials?
This material is placed inside a coil to greatly increase magnetic strength.
What is an iron core?
Moving a magnet faster through a coil causes what change in generated voltage?
It increases the voltage.
This device is wired across a coil to safely eliminate voltage spikes.
What is a clamping diode?
A capacitor absorbs voltage when it is _____ and releases voltage when it is _____.
High / Low
This happens when two north poles or two south poles are brought together.
What is repulsion?
Name two automotive components that rely on electromagnetism to operate.
What are motors, solenoids, or relays?
Why can’t a generator produce electricity if it isn’t spinning?
Because there is no movement to cause induction.
This problem occurs when a changing magnetic field induces unwanted voltage in nearby wires.
What is electromagnetic interference (EMI)?
Why does a capacitor not consume electrical power like a load?
Because no current flows through it.
Explain why most materials do not act like magnets, even though they have domains.
Their domains are randomly oriented and cancel each other out.
Why would a straight wire carrying current not make a strong enough magnet to do useful work?
Its magnetic field is too weak and not concentrated.
Explain how an automotive alternator uses induction to create electrical power.
A rotating magnetic field moves past stationary windings, inducing AC voltage.
Why is EMI especially dangerous in sensor or computer circuits?
Small voltage changes can cause incorrect readings and false signals.
Explain two ways capacitors are used in automotive or hybrid vehicles.
Voltage smoothing, EMI suppression, energy storage during regenerative braking.