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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 20
 

Chapter 20 Magnetism

Test Yourself 20.1 (page 388)

1. (a) (Any three)

Iron, steel, cobalt, nickel
(b) (Any three)
Copper, wood, plastic, brass

2. • A freely suspended magnet always comes to rest in the north-south direction.

• Magnets have magnetic poles (i.e. N pole and S pole).
• Magnets obey the law of magnetism, i.e. like poles repel and unlike poles attract.

3. The poles of the ring magnets are on the flat surfaces of the rings. The ring magnets are placed
such that the poles of adjacent facing magnets are like poles. They repel each other, causing
one magnet to float on top of the other.

Test Yourself 20.2 (page 389)

(a) Wood does not completely block the magnetic field.

(b) The iron nails have become induced magnets. The pointed tips of the iron nails are like poles (N
poles) and thus they repel each other.

Test Yourself 20.3 (page 392)

1. In an unmagnetised steel bar, the magnetic domains point in random directions. In a magnetised
steel bar, the magnetic domains point in the same direction.

2. The magnetic domains of the magnet will be scattered in random directions. Thus, the magnet will
be demagnetised.

3.

N S

Quick Check (page 395)

N S S N

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 20
 

Test Yourself 20.4 (page 396)

(a),
(b)

Test Yourself 20.5 (page 400)

1. Metal 1 attracts more iron tacks than metal 2. This means that metal 1 is easily magnetised to
become a stronger induced magnet than metal 2. Metal 3 does not attract any iron tacks. From
this observation, we can deduce that metal 3 is made of a non-magnetic material (i.e. brass) and
metal 1 is likely made from a soft magnetic material (i.e. iron), whereas metal 2 is made from a
hard magnetic material (i.e. steel).
Metal 1: Iron
Metal 2: Steel
Metal 3: Brass

2. • Magnetic door catch found in refrigerator

• Hard disk drive
• Core of loudspeakers and earphones

Get It Right (page 400)

(a) True
(b) False
Like poles repel, unlike poles attract.
(c) False
Only magnetic materials can be induced to become magnets.
(d) True
(e) False
The magnetic field lines of a magnet point away from its north pole and towards its south pole.
(f) True

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 20
 

Let’s Review (page 402)

Section A: Multiple-Choice Questions

1. D
Magnets can only pick up magnetic materials such as iron, steel, cobalt and nickel. Aluminium,
brass and copper are non-magnetic materials.

2. D
A compass needle is a magnet. A magnetic material will affect the direction of the compass
needle.

3. D
The induced magnetism in the iron bar is shown below. Each arrow represents a magnetic
domain. The base of an arrow represents a south pole, while the arrowhead represents a north
pole.
S

N
N S
N

4. D
The magnetic field flows from the N pole to the S pole. The compass needle will point in the
direction shown below.

5. D
The most effective way to demagnetise a magnet is to place the magnet inside a solenoid in the
east–west direction, connect the solenoid to an a.c. source, and slowly withdraw the magnet from
the solenoid. The a.c. source is only switched off after the magnet has been withdrawn far from
the solenoid.

6. B
In order for attraction to take place, M and L should be made of a magnetic material such as iron.
For S to cushion the impact of L on M, it should be made of an elastic material such as rubber.

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 20
 

Section B: Structured Questions

1. (a) Magnetic materials are materials that can be attracted to magnets. Non-magnetic materials
are materials that cannot be attracted to magnets.
(b)
N N N

steel lead

S S S

2. (a)
 direction of
current solenoid
magnetised steel

(b) Since steel is a hard magnetic material, it will retain some of its magnetism even after the
switch is opened. Therefore, the compass needle would still remain deflected as in (a).
(c) 1. Using the setup in part (a) of the question, place one of the rods (of unknown material) in
the position of the unmagnetised steel rod, as shown below.
solenoid
metal rod

2. Close the switch and open it after some time.

3. Bring the N pole of the compass needle near to end A.
i. If the N pole is repelled, then the core is the steel rod.
ii. If the N pole is attracted, then the core is the iron rod.

Alternative method:
Additional materials needed: Iron paper clips
Both iron and steel are magnetic materials. Therefore, when the current is switched on,
regardless of whether the iron rod or the steel rod is placed in the solenoid, the iron paper
clips will be attracted to the rod.
However, since iron is a soft magnetic material and steel a hard magnetic material, the iron
rod will attract more paper clips than the steel rod. Moreover, when the current is switched
off, the iron rod will lose its magnetism and stop attracting the paper clips, whereas the steel
rod will retain some of its magnetism and hence, still attract some paper clips.
(d) Two possible methods of demagnetising a bar magnet are heating and hammering.

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 20
 

3. (a) The length and width of the magnet should be in the ratio of 3 : 1. The magnetic field around
it should look like:

N S

(b) (i)

(ii) Magnetic shielding. Thin iron sheets are used to enclose equipment sensitive to
magnetic fields. This shields the equipment from external magnetic fields. Examples
include magnetic memory chips in computers and cathode rays in television sets.

Section C: Free-Response Questions

1. (a) The north pole will attract the south pole, and repel the north pole of the bar magnet.
(b) (i)

N S N S

(ii) Refer to Investigation 20.1

Instead of plotting the magnetic field lines of a bar magnet, plot the magnetic field lines
of the soft iron bar in the presence of a bar magnet.
(c)
Temporary magnet Permanent magnet
Easily magnetised, and hence Difficult to magnetise, and hence,
becomes a stronger induced magnet becomes a weaker induced magnet
Loses its magnetism easily Retains its magnetism for a long
time
Soft magnetic materials are used to Hard magnetic materials are used to
make temporary magnets make permanent magnets

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Physics Matters for GCE ‘O’ Level (4 Edition): Full Solutions to Textbook Questions Chapter 20
 

*2. (a) Two factors that can increase the strength of the magnet are solenoid current and the
number of turns per unit length of solenoid.
(b) Set up the apparatus shown below. Take note of the way the wire is coiled around the
spoon. The 2 Ω resistor is used so that the maximum safe current of 4.5 A flows through the
solenoid. Close the circuit for several minutes. The spoon will be magnetised with its N pole
at the handle.

S   N
 

 
9V 2Ω

Physics Today (page 404)

1. The energy of the projectile is its capacity to do the work of destroying an object in its path. By the
Principle of Conservation of Energy, the kinetic energy of the projectile is converted to heat, light
and sound on impact. The kinetic energy Ek of a projectile of mass m and speed v is given by
1 . Therefore, the greater the speed of the projectile, the greater its kinetic energy Ek.
Ek = mv 2
2
Thus, a projectile with an extremely high speed carries a large amount of energy capable of
destroying a well-fortified target, which explains the motto “Speed Destroys”.

2. • Extraction of magnetic foreign bodies in a person

Safety concerns: Adverse effect of magnet on pacemaker implanted in a heart patient
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Like poles repel and unlike poles attract. Therefore, the mini magnets (atomic magnets) in the
body align according to the external magnetic field — this is dependent on the strength of the
magnetic field.
• Magnet therapy
Magnetic bracelets and necklaces allegedly improve blood circulation via the same principle as
MRI (i.e. via alignment of the body’s atomic magnets).

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