AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), 2024: Question 4

8 marks · Low Demand difficulty · Short Answer

Identify magnetic poles and materials, describe magnetic forces, and calculate resultant force using Newton's second law.

Practise this question

Question

The image shows a multi-part physics exam question. Figure 8 depicts a bar magnet with poles X and Y, and two compasses; compass A's needle points towards pole X. Question 04.1 asks to name poles X and Y, while 04.2 asks for the field direction at compass B. Figure 9 shows security tags on clothing, leading to question 04.3 which asks to identify magnetic materials from a list, and 04.4 about the nature of the force between a magnet and magnetic material. Finally, 04.5 requires calculating the resultant force on a falling tag given its mass of 0.030 kg and acceleration of 9.8 m/s² using the provided formula.
Question text

04 Figure 8 shows a permanent magnet and two magnetic compasses.

The poles of the magnet are labelled X and Y.

Figure 8

04.1 The direction of the compass needle in compass A is shown.

Give the names of the poles labelled X and Y in Figure 8.

[2 marks]

X

Y

04.2 Draw an arrow on compass B in Figure 8 to show the direction of the magnetic field

at that position. 17

[1 mark]

Figure 9 shows security tags on some clothes in a shop.

Security tags can be detected if clothes are taken out of the shop with tags

still attached.

Figure 9

The tags are attached to the clothes by pins made from a magnetic material.

A shop assistant can use a magnet to remove the pins.

04.3 Which of the following are magnetic materials?

[2 marks]

Tick ( ) two boxes.

Aluminium

Copper

Iron

Lead

Nickel

Tin 18

04.4 Which of the following describes the force between a magnetic material and

a magnet?

[1 mark]

*17* Tick ( ) one box.

The force is always attractive.

The force is always repulsive.

The force can be either attractive or repulsive.

04.5 The shop assistant removes a security tag and drops the tag into a collecting bin.

As it falls, the tag accelerates at 9.8 m/s2.

The mass of the tag is 0.030 kg.

Calculate the resultant force acting on the tag.

Use the equation:

resultant force = mass × acceleration

[2 marks]

Resultant force = N

Mark scheme

Show the mark scheme The mark scheme for question 4 provides the following answers: 04.1 identifies X as south and Y as north; 04.2 shows a right-pointing arrow for the magnetic field; 04.3 lists iron and nickel as the correct magnetic materials; 04.4 states the force is always attractive; and 04.5 shows the calculation 0.030 times 9.8 equals 0.294 Newtons, with 0.29 also accepted.

Question 4

AO /

Question Answers Extra information Mark

Spec. Ref.

04.1 X = south allow S for south 1 AO2

6.7.1.1

Y = north allow N for north 1

allow 1 mark if they are the

wrong way round

AO /

Spec. Ref.

04.2 1 AO1

6.7.1.2

AO /

Spec. Ref.

04.3 iron 1 AO1

6.7.1.2

nickel 1

AO /

Spec. Ref.

04.4 the force is always attractive 1 AO3

6.7.1.2

AO /

Spec. Ref.

04.5 F = 0.030 × 9.8 1 AO1

6.5.4.2.2

0.294 (N) allow 0.29 (N) 1

Total Question 4 8

How to answer it

Magnets, Magnetic Fields, and Resultant Force

What this question tests

This question assesses your ability to identify magnetic poles using compasses, recall the specific elements that are magnetic, understand the nature of magnetic forces on unmagnetised materials, and perform a calculation using Newton's Second Law (F = m × a).

Parts 04.1 and 04.2

Magnetic Poles and Field Direction

💡 Key Knowledge

  • Magnetic field lines always travel from North to South.
  • A compass needle is a tiny bar magnet. Its North pole points in the direction of the magnetic field.
  • Field lines enter a South pole and exit a North pole.

✅ Correct Answers

  • 04.1: X = South, Y = North
  • 04.2: Arrow on Compass B pointing Right (→)

🧠 Exam Technique

Look at Compass A. The needle is pointing towards pole X. Since field lines go into a South pole, X must be South. If X is South, the other end of the permanent magnet (Y) must be North. In 04.2, because Y is North, the field lines are coming out of it, so the compass needle at B must point away from the magnet (to the right).

❌ Common Errors

Many students swap North and South. If you get them the wrong way round (X=North, Y=South), the examiner will still award 1 mark for showing you know the poles are opposite, but you lose the second mark for the wrong direction.

Parts 04.3 and 04.4

Magnetic Materials and Forces

💡 Key Knowledge

There are only four common magnetic materials you need to know for GCSE:

  • Iron
  • Steel (an alloy of iron)
  • Nickel
  • Cobalt

✅ Correct Answers

04.3: Iron and Nickel (Tick both boxes).

04.4: The force is always attractive.

🧠 Examiner Commentary

In 04.4, students often mistakenly think the force can be repulsive. Remember: Repulsion only happens between two permanent magnets when like poles (N-N or S-S) meet. A magnetic material (like the pin in a security tag) becomes an induced magnet when near a permanent magnet, and induced magnetism always causes attraction.

Part 04.5

Calculating Resultant Force

📐 Step-by-Step Calculation

The question asks for the resultant force using the equation: force = mass × acceleration

  1. Identify the values: Mass (m) = 0.030 kg, Acceleration (a) = 9.8 m/s²
  2. Substitute into the formula: F = 0.030 × 9.8
  3. Calculate: F = 0.294
  4. Final Answer: 0.294 N (or 0.29 N)

❌ Calculation Traps

  • Unit Conversion: Always check if mass is in grams. Here it is already in kg, so no conversion is needed. If it were 30g, you would have to divide by 1000 first.
  • Significant Figures: The mark scheme accepts 0.294 or 0.29. Don't round too aggressively (e.g., to 0.3) unless the question asks you to.

🧠 How marks are awarded

Mark 1 is for the correct substitution of numbers into the equation.

Mark 2 is for the correct final answer. Even if you make a calculator error, you can still get the first mark if your working is shown!

Topics

Physics · P7: Magnetism and Electromagnetism · P5: Forces

Question and mark scheme from the AQA GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy examination, Physics Paper 2 (Foundation), 2024. QuestionVault is an independent revision resource; questions remain the copyright of the awarding body.