This key facts covers Magnetic Materials and Poles within Magnetic Fields for GCSE Physics. Revise Magnetic Fields in Magnetism for GCSE Physics with 14 exam-style questions and 12 flashcards. Use this page as part of a wider topic revision path rather than treating it as an isolated fact. It is section 4 of 13 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and 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!
Practice questions for Magnetic Fields
What happens when two like magnetic poles (e.g. north and north) are brought close together?
State the rules for the attraction and repulsion of magnetic poles.
Quick recall flashcards
Unlike poles?
Attract
Like poles?
Repel