AQA · Physics · 8463
GCSE Physics: Magnetic fields
Magnetism and electromagnetism · AQA GCSE Physics (8463), specification point 4.7.1.2. Cards are generated from the exam board's own specification for "Magnetic fields", and every card links back to the page it came from. Specification © AQA — used with attribution.
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Define a magnetic field.
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The region around a magnet where a force acts on another magnet or on a magnetic material.
Name the four magnetic materials in the GCSE specification.
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Iron, steel, cobalt and nickel.
Is the force between a magnet and a magnetic material attractive or repulsive?
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Always attractive. (Only two magnets can repel each other.)
Where is the magnetic field of a bar magnet strongest?
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At the poles.
How does the strength of a magnetic field change with distance from the magnet?
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It gets weaker as the distance from the magnet increases.
How is the direction of a magnetic field at a point defined?
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As the direction of the force that would act on a north pole placed at that point.
Magnetic field lines run from the north pole to the ? pole of a magnet.
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south
What does a magnetic compass contain that makes it work?
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A small bar magnet (the needle), which aligns with the Earth's magnetic field.
In which direction does a compass needle point?
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In the direction of the Earth's magnetic field at that point.
How would you plot the magnetic field pattern of a bar magnet using a compass?
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Place the compass near a pole, mark where the needle points, move the compass to that mark and repeat; joining the dots gives a field line.
What does the behaviour of a compass tell us about the Earth's core?
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The needle always aligns with the Earth's field, which is evidence that the Earth's core must be magnetic.
On a bar magnet field diagram, what shows where the field is strongest?
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Field lines drawn closer together — they are most concentrated at the poles.
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