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Bar magnets for Edexcel GCSE Physics







This page covers the following topics:
1. Using a plotting compass
2. Magnetic fields around a bar magnet
3. 2 bar magnets N-S in same direction
4. 2 bar magnets N-S opposite direction
A plotting compass contains a small bar magnet. This means the compass needle will point in the direction of the Earth’s magnetic field.
The strength, shape and direction of a magnetic field around a bar magnet change from one point to another. The strength depends on the distance from the magnet.
When two bar magnets are aligned with unlike poles facing each other, the magnetic field lines go from the N-pole of one magnet to the S-pole of the other magnet. They are also parallel to each other in the central part of the gap.
When like poles of two bar magnets face each other, the lines across the gap between them are absent in the central part of the gap.
1
When 2 bar magnets are lined up with unlike poles facing each other, the lines across the very centre of the gap between them are _________.
parallel
2
The magnetic field lines, when two bar magnets are lined up with each other, travel from one pole to the other. Which pole do they travel to?
the south pole
3
Draw a diagram to show two bar magnets lined up with like poles facing, showing only the magnetic field lines interacting with both magnets.
image

4
When 2 bar magnets are lined up with like poles facing each other, the lines across the gap are ... in the central part of the gap.
absent
5
Draw the magnetic field lines around two bar magnets lined up with each other when the north poles are facing each other.
image

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