# 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

## 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

- [magnetic field](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/magnetic-field)

## Related

- [Revision notes for WJEC A-Level Physics (Wales)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Describe and Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

---
Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-holds-a-bar-magnet-4bc085f1) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.