Practice questions

7 Magnetism and electromagnetism

1 The diagram shows a magnetic screwdriver 3 Figure 7.52 shows a diagram of an electric motor. As the
that has picked up and is holding a small current flows from the battery, the coil and split-ring
metal screw. commutator spin.
a) What type of material is the screw
made from? [1 mark] coil axis

aluminium copper steel N

b) The magnetic force between the screw
driver and screw is an example of a S
non-contact force. ▲ Figure 7.50

Which one of the following is also a +

non-contact force? split-ring
air resistance friction gravity [1 mark] commutator

c) Explain how you can use a bar magnet to show ▲ Figure 7.52
that an unmarked bar of material is either a
bar magnet or an unmagnetised bar of iron. [3 marks] a) Explain why the coil spins when a current
flows through it. [3 marks]
2 Figure 7.51 represents a simple transformer used to light a
12 V lamp. When the a.c. input is supplied to the primary b) Without changing the coil, give two ways in
coil, the lamp is dim. which it could be made to spin faster. [2 marks]
c) Give two ways in which the coil could be
made to spin in the opposite direction. [2 marks]
primary secondary
∼ coil coil
4 Figure 7.53 shows a simple transformer.
a.c. input 12 V lamp

a.c. a.c.
input output
iron core
core
▲ Figure 7.51
▲ Figure 7.53
a) Copy and complete the sentences below. [5 marks]
The alternating current input in the coil a) Is the transformer being used as a step-up or
produces a continuously changing in step-down transformer? [1 mark]
the iron core and therefore through the secondary coil. b) Why must the wire used to make the coils be
This an alternating potential difference insulated? [1 mark]
across the ends of the secondary coil. If the secondary
coil is part of a complete circuit, will be c) i) What material is the core made from?
induced in the coil. ii) Why must the core be made from this
b) Suggest three ways to increase the potential material? [2 marks]
difference across the lamp without changing
the power supply. [3 marks]

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 Practice questions

5 Figure 7.54 shows some apparatus that is being used to b) Figure 7.56 shows a model generator.
investigate the factors which affect the potential difference
induced when the wire CD moves through a magnetic field. magnet rotates
The potential difference is measured by a sensitive voltmeter
which reads zero when the pointer is in the middle of the coil S
scale.
N
trolley moves to the left

B iron core
north D
▲ Figure 7.56
N N N N N N
A i) Explain why a potential difference is induced across the
south C ends of the coil when the magnet rotates. [2 marks]
ii) Explain why the potential difference is alternating.
0 [1 mark]
1 1
sensitive c) The ends of the coil are connected to a cathode ray
2 2
voltmeter
3 3
oscilloscope (CRO). Figure 7.57 shows the trace on the
screen as the magnet rotates.
▲ Figure 7.54
The trolley is moving to the left and the sensitive
voltmeter records a reading to the left of zero.
a) State two separate changes you could make
so that the voltmeter records a reading to the right
of zero. [2 marks]
▲ Figure 7.57
b) State two separate changes you could make so that
the induced potential difference is greater. [2 marks] Copy the diagram and draw new traces for each of the
following changes using the same scale. The settings of
c) What does the voltmeter records when the wire the oscilloscope remain the same.
CD is stationary between the magnets? [1 mark]
i) The magnet rotates at the same speed, but
6 a) A student investigates how a thick copper wire can be in the opposite direction. [1 mark]
made to move in a magnetic field. Figure 7.55 shows
the apparatus. ii) The magnet rotates at the same speed, in
the same direction as the original, but the
two horizontally clamped number of turns of the coil is doubled. [2 marks]
copper rods
iii)The magnet rotates at twice the speed, in the
same direction, with the original number
magnet of turns of the coil. [2 marks]
+ –
d) Explain why iron is used as the core in the
model generator. [1 mark]
thick copper wire
7 Figure 7.58 shows part of a bicycle dynamo which is in
switch
battery contact with the wheel.
▲ Figure 7.55 tyre

The wire is placed between the poles of the magnet.

i) Use the information in the diagram to predict
the direction of motion of the wire. [1 mark] N S
ii) Explain what happens to the motion of the
wire when the magnet is turned so the magnet
N pole is below the wire. [2 marks]

coil on soft-iron core

wires to lamp

▲ Figure 7.58

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 a) Explain fully why a current flows through the a) In the first experiment:
7 Magnetism and electromagnetism

lamp when the bicycle wheel turns. [3 marks]

i) What is happening in the coil while the
b) Why does the lamp get brighter as the cycle magnet is moving? [1 mark]
moves faster? [2 marks]
ii) How does the deflection of the needle as the
c) Why does the lamp not work when the bicycle
magnet is pushed towards the coil compare
is stationary? [1 mark]
with the deflection of the needle as the
8 Figure 7.59 shows a type of door lock. magnet is pulled away? [1 mark]
iron bolt iii)State three ways in which the student could
coil
increase the deflection on the meter
iron when the magnet is moved. [3 marks]
door
core
b) Use the second experiment to help explain
why transformers only work with alternating
current. [3 marks]
spring
10 The waves from earthquakes are detected by instruments
+ view from above called seismometers. Figure 7.61 shows a simple
seismometer.
▲ Figure 7.59 A
metal rod +1 B
a) Explain how closing the switch allows the door to be p.d. in volts
0
opened. [3 marks] time in
magnet –1
b) The door bolt is changed, and a thicker, stronger seconds
piece of iron is used. When the switch is closed,
the lock does not open. Without changing the bolt,
suggest two changes that could be made, each
of which would make the lock work again. [2 marks]
▲ Figure 7.61
9 Figure 7.60a) shows a coil sensitive meter
It consists of a bar magnet suspended on a spring.
connected to a sensitive meter.
The spring hangs from a metal rod that transmits
The meter is a ‘centre zero’ type: coil vibrations from the Earth. When there is an
the needle is in the centre when
earthquake, the magnet moves in and out of
no current flows.
▲ Figure 7.60a)
the coil. A computer monitors the potential
A student does two experiments. difference across the coil.
In the first experiment, shown in a) Explain why a p.d. is induced in the coil. [1 mark]
Figure 7.60(b), the magnet is N
b) Why is the induced p.d. alternating? [1 mark]
pushed into the coil. Then the magnet
sensitive meter S
magnet is removed. The meter only c) Describe the movement of the magnet when the
reads a current when the magnet is induced p.d. has its greatest value at the
moving. coil point labelled A. [1 mark]
In the second experiment, shown d) Describe the movement of the magnet
in Figure 7.60(c), a second coil ▲ Figure 7.60b) when the induced p.d. is zero, as at
is brought close to the first. The point B. [1 mark]
student switches the current on and off in the second coil.
e) Suggest two ways in which the seismometer
The needle deflects for a brief time each time the current is
could be made more sensitive so that it can
turned on or off.
detect weaker earthquakes. [2 marks]
sensitive meter

coil
second coil

▲ Figure 7.60c)

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