AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Higher tier · Magnetism and electromagnetism › Permanent and induced magnetism
Practise Magnetic fields. 12 exam-style questions on this subtopic, at up to four difficulty levels, with full mark schemes and a progress tracker. Free, no account needed.
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State the direction of the magnetic field lines outside a bar magnet.
From the north pole to the south pole.
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy5 marks
(a) Which two metals are magnetic materials? Tick (✓) two boxes.[2]
Aluminium
Cobalt
Copper
Nickel
Zinc
(b) In which direction do magnetic field lines point outside a bar magnet? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
From the north pole to the south pole
From the south pole to the north pole
Towards both poles
Away from both poles
(c) What is meant by the magnetic field of a magnet?[1]
(d) A plotting compass is placed on a table, far away from any magnets. In which direction does the north end of its needle point?[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: Cobalt; Nickel
(b)Answer: From the north pole to the south pole
(c)Answer: The region around a magnet where another magnet or a magnetic material experiences a force.
the region around a magnet where a force acts on another magnet or on a magnetic material
(d)Answer: North (along the Earth's magnetic field)
north / along the Earth's magnetic field
Question 2Medium6 marks
A plotting compass is placed on a table, far away from any magnets. The compass needle points north.
(a) Explain why the compass needle points north.[2]
(b) Explain how the behaviour of compasses provides evidence that the Earth's core is magnetic.[2]
(c) The compass is moved close to the north pole of a bar magnet. Describe and explain what happens to the compass needle.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The needle is a small magnet that lines up with the Earth's magnetic field.
the compass needle is a small (bar) magnet
it lines up with / points in the direction of the Earth's magnetic field
(b)Answer: Compasses everywhere line up with a field shaped like that of a bar magnet, so the Earth itself must be magnetic inside.
compasses all over the Earth line up with a magnetic field (with a pattern like that of a huge bar magnet)
so the Earth must produce its own magnetic field, which comes from inside the Earth (its core)
(c)Answer: The north end of the needle points away from the magnet, because near the magnet its field is much stronger than the Earth's and points away from its north pole.
the needle turns so that its north end points away from the magnet's north pole (its south end points towards it)
close to the magnet, the magnet's field is much stronger than the Earth's field / the needle points along the magnet's field (which points away from a north pole)
Question 3Hard6 marks
A student is given a bar magnet, a small plotting compass, a sheet of plain paper and a pencil.
Describe how the student could plot the magnetic field pattern of the bar magnet. Your answer should include a description of the pattern the student should expect, including how the strength and direction of the field vary around the magnet.[6]
Show the answer and mark scheme
Answer: Level-of-response answer: dot-to-dot plotting with a compass from pole to pole, repeated for several lines; lines from N to S, closest together (strongest) at the poles.
place the magnet in the middle of the paper and draw around it
place the plotting compass close to one pole (e.g. the north pole)
mark a dot at the position of the north end of the compass needle
move the compass so that its south end is over the dot and mark the new position of the north end; repeat
join the dots with a smooth curve and add an arrow showing the direction (north to south)
repeat from several different starting points around the magnet to draw more field lines
keep other magnets and magnetic materials (e.g. steel objects) away from the paper
pattern: lines come out of the north pole and curve round into the south pole; field lines never cross
the lines are closest together near the poles, where the field is strongest; they spread out further away, where the field is weaker
far from the magnet the compass is affected mainly by the Earth's magnetic field
Marked with levels of response: the full level descriptors are in the app.