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GCSEPhysicsOCRPhysics A (Gateway)Exam Questions4. Magnetism & Magnetic FieldsMagnets & Magnetic Fields

Magnets & Magnetic Fields (OCR GCSE Physics A (Gateway)): Exam Questions

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Magnets & Magnetic Fields

1a
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When the poles of two bar magnets are brought close together, the magnets will experience either an attraction or a repulsion. 

Complete the table by writing either attract or repel in the effect column.

Table showing bar magnet orientations with two magnets aligned differently in each row. In row 1, the south poles are facing one another. In row 2, the north and south poles are facing one another. In row 3, the south and north poles are facing one another. In row 4, the north poles are facing one another.

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1b
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State which item will experience an attraction or repulsion when:

(i) a magnetic material is brought close to the north pole of a magnet.

[1]

(ii) a magnetic material is brought close to the south pole of a magnet.

[1]

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1c4 marks

State four magnetic materials that would be attracted to a magnet.

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1d3 marks

Sketch the magnetic field lines for the two bar magnets shown in the diagram.

Two rectangular magnets, left with north on the left and south on the right; right with south on the left and north on the right.

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2a3 marks

Draw the magnetic field pattern between the North and South poles of the magnets.

Include arrows on your field lines.

q20a-paper1-june2098-ocr-gcse-physics

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2b1 mark

Describe one difference between a permanent magnet and an induced magnet.

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2c2 marks

A student investigates solenoids and writes the following:

Solenoids

Solenoids are coils of wire.

When a voltage flows through them a magnetic field is created.

The magnetic field can be increased by decreasing the number of turns or by increasing the current.

The student makes two mistakes. Put a circle enclose ringaround the two mistakes in the above box.

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3a5 marks

A student sets up an experiment to investigate the magnetic field around a current-carrying wire.

q17-paper3-june2018-ocr-gcse-physics

i) Describe how the student could use this experiment and a compass to investigate the magnetic field produced by the wire.

[3]

ii) Draw the shape of the field which would be found around this wire.

[2]

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3b2 marks

The behaviour of a magnetic compass is evidence that the core of the Earth is magnetic.

Explain why.

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4a5 marks

Two students, A and B, use different methods to see magnetic field patterns.

i) Describe how student A could use a compass to plot a magnetic field pattern.

You may draw a diagram to help you answer this question.

[3]

ii) Describe how student B could use iron filings to show a magnetic field pattern.

You may draw a diagram to help you answer this question.

[2]

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4b1 mark

Their teacher prefers the method used by student A.

Suggest one reason why.

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4c2 marks

Sketch the field pattern the students would find around a bar magnet.

Your sketch should show the direction of the field pattern.

q17c-paper1-specimen-ocr-gcse-physics

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4d2 marks

The two students investigate the magnetic effect of a current-carrying wire.

Look at the graph of their results.

q17d-paper1-specimen-ocr-gcse-physics

What trend is shown by the graph?

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5a
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Scientists can explain magnetic materials and non-magnetic materials using domain theory. 

All atoms contain electrons, and electrons act as tiny magnets with a north and a south pole, as shown in Fig. 1.1.

Fig. 1.1

Diagram of an electron depicted as a tiny magnet with north (N) and south (S) poles, labelled with text "Electron acting as a tiny magnet".

Metals are collections of many millions of atoms. For non-magnetic materials, the electrons are randomly aligned as shown in Fig. 1.2.

Fig. 1.2

Diagram of many arrows in all directions within a rectangle, illustrating electrons behaving like tiny magnets in a non-magnetic material.

For magnetic materials, the electrons are arranged in groups called domains. Within each domain, the electrons are aligned so that they all point in the same direction, and each domain acts as a magnet itself. This is illustrated in Fig. 1.3. 

Fig. 1.3

Diagram illustrating magnetic domains in a material, with arrows indicating electron directions. In a magnetic material, the electrons within a domain are all facing the same direction, but each domain has a different orientation.

Use domain theory to explain

(i) Why most metals are not magnetic.

[3]

(ii) Why some metals can be magnetised.

[3]

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5b1 mark

Using arrows in a rectangle to represent electrons in a metal as in part (a), draw a sketch of a magnetised material.

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