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Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Plotting magnetic fields

I can plot and describe magnetic fields around bar magnets.

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New
New
Year 11
Edexcel
Higher

Plotting magnetic fields

I can plot and describe magnetic fields around bar magnets.

Download all resources
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Share activities with pupils
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Lesson details

Key learning points

  1. All magnets have a north–seeking pole and a south–seeking pole.
  2. Unlike magnetic poles attract each other, and like magnetic poles repel each other.
  3. Just three metal elements (iron, cobalt and nickel) are magnetic; other metals and non–metals are not magnetic.
  4. The needle of a plotting compass lines up with the magnetic field of a magnet.
  5. Arrows on magnetic field lines show the direction in which the north–seeking pole of another magnet would be forced.

Keywords

  • North–seeking pole - The part of a magnet that is attracted to the south–seeking pole of another magnet, and to Earth's magnetic North Pole.

  • Magnetic material - A material that is attracted to a magnet. The elements iron, cobalt and nickel, and their alloys (such as steel), are magnetic; non–metals and other metals are not magnetic.

  • Compass needle - A tiny magnet in a compass that freely turns to line up with the direction of a magnetic field.

  • Magnetic field line - A line with an arrow, showing the direction in which a force acts on the north–seeking pole of a magnet in a magnetic field.

Common misconception

The magnetic field is only at the poles of a magnet.

Provide opportunity for pupils to plot magnetic field lines around pairs of bar magnets and to experiment with a second magnet as described in the teacher tip.

A visualiser can be used to demonstrate the action of field lines by holding in place a bar magnet on a sheet of paper with its field lines plotted around it, and gently pushing the north–seeking pole of a second magnet towards it, which is forced along the field line it is on.
Teacher tip

Equipment

A pair of bar magnets and a plotting compass for each pupil so they can plot magnetic field lines onto A4 plain paper.

Content guidance

  • Risk assessment required - equipment

Supervision

Adult supervision required

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2024), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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Starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following statements correctly describes non–contact forces?
Correct answer: They can exist between objects if they are touching.
They can only exist between objects if they are touching.
They can only exist between objects if they are not moving.
They can only exist between objects if they are not touching.
Correct answer: They can exist between objects even if they are not touching.
Q2.
Which of the following are types of non–contact force?
friction
Correct answer: magnetic force
Correct answer: gravitational force
air resistance
Q3.
Which of the following is the correct definition of the word ‘repel’?
Correct answer: push away
move apart
break apart
pull together
Q4.
The opposite of repulsion is .
Correct Answer: attraction, attracting, attract
Q5.
Earth has two poles: a north–seeking pole and a pole.
Correct Answer: south-seeking, south seeking, south, southseeking
Q6.
A magnet exerts an attractive force on a metal rod. Which of the following statements is correct?
Correct answer: The rod exerts a force on the magnet.
The rod does not exert a force on the magnet.
It is not possible to say whether the rod exerts a force on the magnet.

Exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Inside a compass there is a freely rotating magnet which lines up with the magnetic field it is in. Which of the following is the term used for this magnet?
compass pin
compass dial
compass hand
Correct answer: compass needle
Q2.
Which of the following metals do magnets attract?
Correct answer: nickel
Correct answer: iron
aluminium
Correct answer: steel
copper
Q3.
An object is made of a magnetic material. Which of the following statements must be correct?
Correct answer: The object can be made into a magnet.
The object is always attracted to magnets.
The object must have a north–seeking pole and a south–seeking pole.
Correct answer: The object experiences a force when it is near a magnet.
Q4.
The full name for the north pole of a magnet is ‘north–seeking pole’. Which of the following statements about a north–seeking pole are correct?
Correct answer: It is attracted to Earth’s North Pole.
It is attracted to Earth’s South Pole.
It is attracted to the north–seeking poles of other magnets.
Correct answer: It is attracted to the south–seeking poles of other magnets.
Q5.
Which of the following statements about the magnetic field lines around a bar magnet is correct?
Field lines can cross each other.
Correct answer: Where field lines are closer together, the field is stronger.
The arrows on field lines show the direction of force on a positive charge.
Q6.
Two bar magnets are placed end–to–end, as shown in the diagram. Which of the following describes the magnetic field around both magnets?
An image in a quiz
Correct answer: It looks like the field of a single bar magnet.
There is no magnetic field around the magnets.
It looks like the field of two bar magnets next to each other.

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