AQA GCSE Physics (8463), Higher tier · Magnetism and electromagnetism › Permanent and induced magnetism
Practise Poles of a magnet. 11 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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A student holds two bar magnets close to each other. Where are the magnetic forces of a bar magnet strongest?
At the poles
Two magnets exert forces on each other without touching. What type of force is this?
A non-contact force
Give one everyday object that uses a permanent magnet.
A fridge magnet (or any similar example).
Sample questions
Written for this site in the style of AQA exam questions. They are not taken from real past papers.
Question 1Easy4 marks
A student holds two bar magnets close to each other.
(a) The north pole of one magnet is brought close to the north pole of the other magnet. What happens? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
The magnets attract each other.
The magnets repel each other.
There is no force between the magnets.
(b) The force between the two magnets is an example of which type of force? Tick (✓) one box.[1]
Contact force
Friction
Non-contact force
Tension
(c) Where are the magnetic forces of a bar magnet strongest?[1]
(d) Name one magnetic material.[1]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The magnets repel each other.
(b)Answer: Non-contact force
(c)Answer: At the poles
at the poles / at the ends
(d)Answer: Iron (or steel, cobalt or nickel)
iron / steel / cobalt / nickel
Question 2Medium7 marks
A student hangs a small iron nail from the north pole of a bar magnet. A second nail is then hung from the bottom of the first nail, and a third nail from the bottom of the second, forming a chain.
(a) Explain why the first nail is attracted to the magnet.[2]
(b) Explain why the second nail is attracted to the first nail.[1]
(c) The student carefully pulls the magnet away from the top nail. Describe and explain what happens to the chain of nails.[2]
(d) Describe the difference between a permanent magnet and an induced magnet.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The nail becomes an induced magnet, and induced magnetism always causes attraction.
the nail becomes an induced magnet (when it is in the magnetic field)
induced magnetism always causes a force of attraction
(b)Answer: The first nail has become a magnet and induces magnetism in the second nail.
the first nail is magnetised / is an induced magnet, so it induces magnetism in the second nail (which is attracted)
(c)Answer: The chain falls apart because the nails lose their induced magnetism quickly.
the nails fall apart / drop off
an induced magnet loses most or all of its magnetism quickly when it is removed from the magnetic field
(d)Answer: A permanent magnet has its own magnetic field; an induced magnet is only a magnet while it is in a magnetic field.
a permanent magnet produces its own magnetic field (all the time)
an induced magnet only becomes a magnet when it is placed in a magnetic field
Question 3Hard5 marks
A student holds the north pole of a bar magnet near one end of an unmagnetised iron rod. The rod is attracted to the magnet. The student then turns the magnet round, so that its south pole is near the same end of the rod. The rod is still attracted to the magnet.
(a) Explain why the iron rod is attracted to the magnet in both cases.[3]
(b) The student takes the bar magnet away. Describe and explain what happens to the magnetism of the iron rod.[2]
Show the answer and mark scheme
(a)Answer: The rod becomes an induced magnet whose nearer end is always the opposite pole to the magnet's pole, and unlike poles attract — so induced magnetism always gives attraction.
the rod becomes an induced magnet when it is placed in the magnetic field of the bar magnet
the end of the rod nearest the magnet becomes the opposite pole to the pole held near it (a south pole near the magnet's north pole, a north pole near its south pole)
unlike poles attract, so induced magnetism always causes a force of attraction
(b)Answer: It quickly loses most or all of its magnetism, because an induced magnet is only magnetised while it is in a magnetic field.
the rod loses most or all of its magnetism (quickly)
because it was only an induced magnet: it is magnetised only while it is in a magnetic field