Simple magnetism and magnetic fields

At position 1, one end of a rod attracts the N-pole of a bar magnet. At position 2, the same end of the rod attracts the S-pole of the bar magnet. What material is the rod made of, and what pole is at end P of the rod in position 1?

May/June 2015

A metal ring is used to shield a piece of equipment from a magnetic field. Which metal ought to be used for the ring, and why?

May/June 2015

A metal ring shields a piece of equipment from a magnetic field. Which metal should be chosen for the ring, and why?

May/June 2015

Four plotting compasses are arranged close to a bar magnet. You can disregard any influence from the Earth’s magnetic field. One compass is shown below. Which position could it be in?

May/June 2016

There are four plotting compasses positioned near a bar magnet. Any effect of the Earth’s magnetic field can be disregarded. One compass is shown in this way. What could be a possible location for this compass?

May/June 2016

What evidence shows that a metal bar is a permanent magnet?

May/June 2017

Electrical apparatus is shielded from magnetic fields by placing the apparatus inside a box. Which material is the box constructed from?

May/June 2017

What evidence shows that a metal bar is a permanent magnet?

May/June 2017

Which method will demagnetise a bar magnet?

May/June 2017

Electrical apparatus is shielded from magnetic fields by enclosing the apparatus in a box. What material is the box made of?

May/June 2017

A student studies a permanent magnet by hanging paper clips from the magnet, as shown. Which statement is correct?

May/June 2019

Each of the two bars has one labelled end, X or Y, as shown. The X end of bar 1 is first moved near the N-pole and then near the S-pole of a magnet. The Y end of bar 2 is first moved near the N-pole and then near the S-pole of the magnet. The table gives the observations. What materials are bar 1 and bar 2 made of?

May/June 2019

The X end of a metal rod attracts the North pole of a compass needle. Which statement about the rod is correct?

May/June 2021

The X end of a metal rod attracts the North pole of a compass needle. Which statement about the rod is correct?

May/June 2021

A student studies the magnetic field in the space between two strong magnets. She arranges the magnets as shown in Fig. 4.1.

May/June 2021

A student uses a plotting compass to trace the shape of the magnetic field around a straight conductor carrying a current.

May/June 2021

Fig. 6.1 shows part of a toy containing two permanent magnets shaped as rings. A plastic rod goes through the centre of both magnets. The upper magnet can slide up and down freely on the plastic rod. The magnetic poles on the lower magnet are shown in Fig. 6.1.

May/June 2022

The diagrams show bar magnets together with a range of non-magnetic and demagnetised metal bars arranged in different ways. In which arrangement do the bars repel?

May/June 2023

A student uses a wooden clamp and a stand to support a bar magnet so that it hangs freely. The diagrams indicate that: in experiment 1, the student places a bar magnet beside the suspended magnet; in experiment 2, the student places an iron bar beside the suspended magnet; in experiment 3, the student places a steel bar beside the suspended magnet. In which experiments does the suspended magnet move?

May/June 2023

What evidence shows that a metal bar is a permanent magnet?

May/June 2023

The diagram displays a bar magnet together with four labelled arrows. Which arrow indicates the direction of the magnetic field at the point where that arrow is placed?

May/June 2023

A compass is positioned near a strong bar magnet and turns to the arrangement shown. What kind of magnet is a compass needle, and what is pole X?

May/June 2024

Three items of apparatus made from magnetic materials are shown below. 1 the core of a transformer 2 the needle of a compass 3 iron filings used to reveal a magnetic field pattern Which of these items behave as temporary magnets while they are being used?

May/June 2025

Which metal would be suitable for the core of an electromagnet?

Oct/Nov 2015

Which material can be attracted by a magnet?

Oct/Nov 2015

A bar magnet that is freely suspended will settle pointing along the north-south line.

Oct/Nov 2015

Delicate instruments are often kept inside a box to shield them from unwanted magnetic fields. What material is the box made from, and why is it selected?

Oct/Nov 2016

Sensitive instruments are often put inside a box so that stray magnetic fields do not affect them. What material is used for the box, and why is this material selected?

Oct/Nov 2016

The diagram illustrates the pattern and direction of the magnetic field between two magnetic poles X and Y. Which pole types are X and Y?

Oct/Nov 2017

The diagram shows a sensitive device enclosed by a shield that stops the magnetic field from reaching the device. In what way does the shield protect the device?

Oct/Nov 2017

A compass needle is moved to several different positions around a strong bar magnet. At which position is the compass needle’s direction shown incorrectly?

Oct/Nov 2017

Which diagram illustrates the magnetic field pattern in the area between the N-poles of the two bar magnets?

Oct/Nov 2018

Fig. 6.1 shows a stationary magnet and a small compass, viewed from above, on a laboratory bench.

Oct/Nov 2018

A student maps the pattern of the magnetic field between the North poles of two bar magnets using a plotting compass. The student sets the magnets on a sheet of white paper, as shown in Fig. 4.1.

Oct/Nov 2018

Magnets $M_1$, $M_2$ and $M_3$ are connected using iron balls W, X and Y, as shown. Magnetic poles are induced in iron balls W and X, as illustrated. Which diagram shows the poles induced in ball Y?

Oct/Nov 2019

The diagram illustrates two magnetic field lines in the field surrounding two bar magnets. Which row identifies the magnetic poles at end P and end Q of the two magnets?

Oct/Nov 2019

A bar magnet is inserted into a hollow iron cylinder. The diagram illustrates the magnetic field pattern that is formed. What produces the field within the cylinder wall?

Oct/Nov 2020

A teacher is trying to demagnetise a bar magnet and tests three different procedures. 1. Heat the bar magnet to a high temperature and allow it to cool. 2. Position the bar magnet east to west and strike it with a hammer. 3. Put the bar magnet inside a coil carrying a direct current and withdraw it slowly from the coil. Which methods demagnetise the bar magnet?

Oct/Nov 2021

As illustrated, a small plotting compass is positioned close to a bar magnet. Which diagram indicates the direction that the compass needle points?

Oct/Nov 2021

Four plotting compasses are arranged near a bar magnet. Any influence from the Earth's magnetic field should be ignored. One compass is shown like this. What could be a possible position of this compass?

Oct/Nov 2022

The N pole of a permanent magnet is brought one after another near a piece of iron, the S pole of a different magnet, and a piece of copper. Which of these objects are attracted to the N pole of the permanent magnet?

Oct/Nov 2022

Four plotting compasses are positioned close to a bar magnet. Any influence from the Earth’s magnetic field should be ignored. One compass is shown as follows (diagram). Which location could this compass be in?

Oct/Nov 2022

Two permanent magnets are positioned side by side in four different set-ups. In which of the set-ups will the magnets repel one another?

Oct/Nov 2023

The diagrams display an iron nail in four separate situations. In which diagram does the nail act as an induced magnet?

Oct/Nov 2024

Which row shows a magnetic metal alongside a non-magnetic metal correctly?

Oct/Nov 2024

A magnet suspended freely is positioned at right angles to a uniform magnetic field, as illustrated. The magnet is seen from above. What happens to the magnet when it is released?

Oct/Nov 2024

The bar magnet is able to turn freely about a thin rod passing through its centre. It starts at rest on a frictionless horizontal surface in a laboratory where the Earth’s magnetic field is shielded out.

Oct/Nov 2024

A bar magnet is set on a sheet of paper. The diagram displays the magnetic field lines produced by the magnet. A soft-iron bar is then placed on the paper along the rectangle labelled WZ. The soft-iron bar is magnetised by induction. What magnetic poles appear at the two ends of the soft-iron bar?

Oct/Nov 2025

Magnets $M_1$, $M_2$ and $M_3$ are connected by iron balls W, X and Y as shown. The iron balls W and X have magnetic poles induced in them as shown. Which diagram shows the poles induced in ball Y?

Oct/Nov 2025