# A student has two materials, steel and soft iron, and wants to use one of them to make a permanent magnet and the other as the core of an electromagnet. State which material should be used for each purpose and explain why each material is suited to its role.

> Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1) — 6.1 Magnetism · Explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. Steel should be used to make the permanent magnet
2. Steel is magnetically hard, so it retains / keeps its magnetism permanently
3. Soft iron should be used as the core of the electromagnet
4. Soft iron is magnetically soft, so it loses its magnetism quickly / easily when the current is switched off

## Key terms

- [permanent magnet](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/permanent-magnet)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Pearson Edexcel International GCSE Physics (4PH1)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-has-two-materials-steel-39189229) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.