Physics With Kate
Empowering Girls in Physics
Spec-aligned revision resources, group courses, and 1:1 tutoring for GCSE and A Level Physics — built by an experienced teacher and examiner.
AQA GCSE Physics · Topic 4.7 Magnetism and Electromagnetism
6.2 – 6.6
Edexcel International GCSE Physics · Section 6 Magnetism and electromagnetism
Magnets, Magnetic Fields and Induced Magnets
In this lesson you'll learn to: describe the attraction and repulsion between like and opposite poles,
name the four magnetic materials, explain the difference between a permanent and an induced
magnet (and test for one), describe a magnetic field, and plot and draw the field around a bar
magnet with a compass.
▶
Prefer to watch? Scroll to the bottom for the video on this topic
▶
A video walkthrough is coming soon — it will appear at the bottom of this page
▶
Start here — have a play
Don't read anything yet. On tab 1, predict attract, repel or no force before you bring each object close. Try every material, and flip magnet A. On tab 2, plot a field line dot by dot with the compass, join the dots, then plot three more. Tab 3 is the paperclip test for an induced magnet, one step at a time.
Like poles repel, opposite poles attract. The magnetic materials are iron, steel, nickel and cobalt: they are attracted by either pole and never repel. Only a magnet can repel a magnet.
- At least 4 field lines
- Arrows point from N to S
- Lines above and below (symmetrical)
- Lines closest together at the poles
Tap anywhere to put the compass there: the needle always lines up with the field. The needle's north end points along the field line, away from N and towards S.
An induced magnet is a magnetic material that becomes a magnet when it is placed in another magnet's magnetic field. Take the field away and it stops being a magnet (or nearly all of it goes, very quickly).
Field lines show the direction a north pole would be pushed: out of N, round, and into S.
▲ Three tabs: attract or repel, plotting the field with a compass, then the induced-magnet test.
Seen copper do nothing? Now learn why.
Four magnetic materials, two kinds of magnet, one field-line method. The notes below have the exact wording the mark scheme wants.
✎
Revision notes
Poles and forces
Every magnet has a north pole (N) and a south pole (S). The magnetic field is strongest at the poles.
⭐ The rule
Like poles repel (N and N, or S and S). Opposite poles attract (N and S).
The force between two magnets is a non-contact force: it acts across the gap.
Magnetic materials
Only four materials are magnetic: iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. A magnet attracts them with either pole. Everything else (copper, aluminium, plastic, wood, gold) feels no force.
⭐ Only a magnet can repel a magnet
A magnetic material is always attracted, never repelled. So the only way to show something is a magnet is to see it repel another magnet.
From the workbook: attract, repel or no force?
① Repel: like poles (N faces N)
② Attract: opposite poles (N faces S)
③ Attract: steel is a magnetic material
④ Attract: nickel is attracted by either pole
⑤ No force: copper is not magnetic
⑥ No force: plastic is not magnetic
Permanent and induced magnets
| Permanent magnet | Induced magnet | |
|---|---|---|
| Its field | has its own magnetic field, all the time | only a magnet while it is in another magnet's field |
| Force | can attract or repel another magnet | always attracted, never repelled |
| Field removed | stays a magnet | loses most or all of its magnetism quickly |
| Example | a bar magnet | a paperclip or iron nail near a magnet |
⭐ Definition: induced magnet
An induced magnet is a magnetic material which becomes a magnet when it is placed in another magnet's magnetic field.
Why always attracted? The end nearest the magnet becomes the opposite pole (the end near an N pole becomes S), and opposite poles attract.
Edexcel only Magnetically hard and soft materials (6.3).
A magnetically soft material (like iron) is easy to magnetise and loses its magnetism quickly when the
field is removed: good for induced magnets, electromagnets and transformer cores. A magnetically hard material
(like steel) is harder to magnetise but keeps its magnetism: good for permanent magnets.
The test for an induced magnet: the paperclip test.
① A and B: no force
② A in the magnetic field
③ B now attracted: A is an induced magnet
④ Field removed: B falls, A is no longer a magnet
Magnetic fields
⭐ Definition: magnetic field
A region where a magnetic item (another magnet or a magnetic material) experiences a force.
- The field is strongest at the poles and gets weaker further away from the magnet.
- The direction of the field at any point is the direction of the force on a north pole placed there. So field lines always go from N to S.
- A compass contains a tiny bar magnet. Its needle lines up with the field, pointing along the field line.
- With no magnet nearby, a compass points north. That's evidence the Earth has a magnetic field: its core is magnetic.
Plotting the field with a compass
Dots at the needle tip, joined with a smooth line, arrows N to S
| Step | Method |
|---|---|
| 1 | Put the bar magnet on paper. Draw round it and label N and S. |
| 2 | Place a plotting compass next to the N pole. |
| 3 | Mark a pencil dot where the tip of the needle points. |
| 4 | Move the compass so its tail is on the dot. Mark the new tip. |
| 5 | Repeat until you reach the S pole, then join the dots with a smooth line. Add an arrow from N to S. |
| 6 | Start again from a different point next to the N pole to plot more lines. |
⭐ Drawing the field round a bar magnet: the five ticks
✓ N and S labelled · ✓ at least 4 field lines · ✓ symmetrical pattern · ✓ arrows from N to S · ✓ lines closest together at the poles (where the field is strongest). Field lines never cross or touch.
Edexcel only You also need the field between two bar
magnets and how to make a uniform field (6.6, 6.7). That has its own lesson, coming soon.
✍
How to write it in the exam
The sentence frame for "explain why … is attracted / repelled"
Which poles face each other (or "it is a magnetic material") →
like poles repel / opposite poles attract →
what that force does (balances the weight, pulls it closer…).
name the polesstate the rulelink it to the question
Exam-style question · in both workbooks · 8 marks
Two ring magnets sit on a wooden rod. Magnet X floats above magnet Y.
- (a) Poles of magnet X [1]: N on the bottom, S on top, so N faces the N of Y.
- (b) Why X floats [2]: like poles (N and N) face each other, so they repel (1); the upward repulsive force on X balances its weight (1).
- (c) Wood, not steel [1]: wood is not magnetic. Steel is, so the magnets would stick to the rod.
- (d) X turned upside down [2]: X moves down and sticks to Y, no gap (1); opposite poles (S and N) now face each other, so they attract (1).
- (e) Copper coin on top [2]: the gap gets smaller (1); the coin adds weight, so X moves closer to Y until the stronger repulsive force balances it (1). Copper is not magnetic: it only adds weight.
Exam-style question · AQA workbook page 4 · 7 marks
A student has a steel bar magnet and an iron nail.
- (a) One difference between a permanent and an induced magnet [1]: a permanent magnet has its own magnetic field all the time; an induced magnet is only a magnet when it is in another magnet's field.
- (b) The nail is held near the N pole. Explain why it is attracted [2]: the nail becomes an induced magnet in the magnet's field (1); the end nearest the N pole becomes an S pole, and opposite poles attract (1).
- (c) Why an induced magnet is always attracted, never repelled [2]: the induced pole nearest the magnet is always the opposite pole (1), so it is always attracted; only two permanent magnets can repel (1).
- (d) A test to show the nail is no longer a magnet [2]: touch the nail with a paperclip (or bring it near a compass) (1); the paperclip is not attracted, so the nail is no longer a magnet (1).
Where marks go missing: "the nail is magnetic, so it's attracted" scores nothing in (b). Say it becomes an induced magnet and name the opposite pole.
📘 Now do it in your workbook
Page 3: six attract, repel or no force questions, circle the magnetic materials, draw the field round a bar magnet, and the floating-magnets exam question. Page 4: plot a field with a compass, the induced magnet definition and paperclip test, and an exam question.
Page 4: six attract, repel or no force questions, circle the magnetic materials, draw the field round a bar magnet and the uniform field between two magnets, and the floating-magnets exam question.
AQA GCSE Physics Workbook · MAGNETISM AND ELECTROMAGNETISM · pages 3 and 4 Edexcel International GCSE Physics Workbook · MAGNETISM AND ELECTROMAGNETISM · page 4
⬇ Free: pages 3 and 4 (PDF)
📄 Full workbook PDF · £2.99
Paperback on Amazon
⬇ Free: page 4 (PDF)
📄 Full workbook PDF · £2.99
Paperback on Amazon
The full workbook covers the whole of the Magnetism and Electromagnetism topic, with exam-style questions and worked answers.
✅ Can you do it? Tick as you go
0% complete🎉 Nice work! You've ticked off every objective for this spec point.
Don't forget to hit “Mark complete” at the bottom of the lesson.
▶
Prefer to watch? Here's the whole thing
Video walkthrough — coming soon
Everything above, explained out loud — useful for a last-minute recap, or if you'd rather hear it than read it.
Everything above, explained out loud — useful for a last-minute recap, or if you'd rather hear it than read it. The video is on its way.
🎬
Video coming soon
The walkthrough for this lesson is being filmed and will appear right here. Until then, the animation and the notes above cover every mark.
Now put it into practice
Pages 3 and 4 of the workbook have the attract-or-repel questions, the field to plot and draw, the paperclip test and two exam questions, with full answers at the back.
Page 4 of the workbook has the attract-or-repel questions, both field drawings and the floating-magnets exam question, with full answers at the back.
Proud member · Accredited · Trusted partners
© 2026 Physics With Kate · All rights reserved