This key facts covers Magnetic Materials and Poles within Magnetic Fields for GCSE Physics. Revise Magnetic Fields in Magnetism for GCSE Physics with 13 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. This is a high-frequency topic, so it is worth revising until the explanation feels precise and repeatable. It is section 4 of 14 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 4 of 14
Practice
13 questions
Recall
12 flashcards
📚 Magnetic Materials and Poles
Magnetic materials: Iron, steel, cobalt, nickel (and their alloys)
Permanent magnets:
- Produce their own magnetic field constantly
- Made from "hard" magnetic materials like steel
- Always have both a NORTH and SOUTH pole
Induced magnets:
- Become magnetic when placed in a magnetic field
- Made from "soft" magnetic materials like iron
- Lose magnetism when removed from field
- Always ATTRACTED to permanent magnets (never repelled)
Poles:
- Like poles REPEL (N-N or S-S)
- Unlike poles ATTRACT (N-S)
- You cannot isolate a single pole — cut a magnet and you get two smaller magnets!