# A student wants to find out which end of an unmarked bar magnet is the north pole. They have access to a compass. Describe how the student could identify the north pole of the bar magnet using the compass, and explain how the compass indicates which end is the north pole.

> Eduqas GCSE Physics — 8.1 Permanent and induced magnetism, magnetic forces and fields · Describe · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The student brings/holds the compass near one end of the bar magnet
2. The compass needle (a small permanent magnet) will be deflected / will point in a particular direction
3. The north pole of the bar magnet repels the north-seeking (north) pole of the compass needle
4. The end of the bar magnet that causes the north pole of the compass needle to point away from it (i.e. is repelled) is the north pole of the bar magnet

## Key terms

- [compass](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/compass)
- [north pole](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/north-pole)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-wants-to-find-out-4ae8376d) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.