Why does a compass needle settle pointing one particular way when no magnets are nearby?

Because the Earth has its own magnetic field and the needle lines itself up with it.

What happens to a compass needle when a strong bar magnet is brought close to it?

It turns to line up with the magnet's field, because that field is much stronger than the Earth's field there.

What does a compass tell you about the magnetic field at the place where it is put?

It shows the direction of the magnetic field at that point.

A compass is moved to several places around a bar magnet and points a different way at each. What does this show?

That the direction of the magnetic field changes from one point to another around the magnet.

AQA GCSE Physics 8463

Atomic Structure

Topic overview The structure of an atom Mass number, atomic number and isotopes From the plum pudding model to the nuclear model Chadwick, the neutron, and comparing the models Radioactive decay and nuclear radiation Nuclear equations Half-lives and the random nature of radioactive decay Radioactive contamination Background radiation Uses of nuclear radiation, and how half-life affects hazard Nuclear fission and nuclear fusion

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Magnetism and Electromagnetism

Topic overview Poles of a magnet Magnetic fields around a magnet The compass, and plotting a magnetic field Electromagnetism

Particle Model of Matter

Topic overview Density of materials Changes of state and internal energy Temperature changes in a system and specific heat capacity Changes of state and specific latent heat Particle motion in gases Pressure in gases, volume and temperature

Space Physics

Topic overview Our solar system, and the orbits of satellites The life cycle of a star Red-shift

Waves

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Magnetism and Electromagnetism

The compass, and plotting a magnetic field

3 things to know
Paper 2

Overview

What a compass contains and why it lines up with the Earth's field, plotting the field around a bar magnet, and what the pattern shows about field strength and the Earth's core.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

Your recallNot started

Key term

Describe how to use a plotting compass to find the field pattern around a bar magnet.

Key term

What does a magnetic compass contain?

Key term

Which end of a compass needle points towards the Earth's magnetic north?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

1
What does a magnetic compass contain?
Model answer
A small bar magnet that is free to turn.
2
Why does a compass needle settle pointing one particular way when no magnets are nearby?
Model answer
Because the Earth has its own magnetic field and the needle lines itself up with it.
3
Which end of a compass needle points towards the Earth's magnetic north?
Model answer
The north seeking pole of the needle.
4
What happens to a compass needle when a strong bar magnet is brought close to it?
Model answer
It turns to line up with the magnet's field, because that field is much stronger than the Earth's field there.
5
What does a compass tell you about the magnetic field at the place where it is put?
Model answer
It shows the direction of the magnetic field at that point.
6
A compass is moved to several places around a bar magnet and points a different way at each. What does this show?
Model answer
That the direction of the magnetic field changes from one point to another around the magnet.

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