A student holds a bar magnet near a pile of iron filings and some small pieces of plastic. Describe what happens to the iron filings and the plastic pieces, and explain why the two materials behave differently in the presence of the magnetic field.

WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales) — 4.4 Magnetic fields · Describe and Explain · 5 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

Model answer (5 marks)

The iron filings are attracted to the bar magnet and move towards it. The plastic pieces are not attracted and remain unaffected. Iron is a magnetic material; it can be magnetised and is attracted by a magnet. Plastic is a non‑magnetic material; it cannot be magnetised or attracted. The iron filings line up and arrange themselves along the magnetic field lines around the magnet.

Examiner tips

  • Use the word "attracted" for iron and "unaffected" for plastic
  • Mention that iron is magnetic and plastic is non‑magnetic
  • Show that filings line up along field lines
  • Keep answer concise and use correct terminology

Common mistakes

  • Saying plastic is attracted or ignoring the field‑line arrangement
  • Using vague terms like "magnetic" for plastic
  • Not distinguishing between magnetic and non‑magnetic materials

Mark scheme (5 marks)

  1. The iron filings are attracted to the bar magnet / move towards the magnet
  2. The plastic pieces are not attracted / are unaffected by the magnet
  3. Iron is a magnetic material (it can be magnetised / attracted by a magnet)
  4. Plastic is a non-magnetic material (it cannot be magnetised / attracted by a magnet)
  5. The iron filings line up / arrange themselves along the magnetic field lines around the magnet

Key terms in this question

magnetic field

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