# A student wants to magnetise a steel rod and a soft iron rod using the stroking method. After stroking both rods with a bar magnet and then removing the bar magnet, describe what happens to the magnetism of each rod and explain why the two rods behave differently.

> Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625) — 4.1 Simple phenomena of magnetism · Describe and explain · 4 marks

## Mark scheme (4 marks)

1. The steel rod retains / keeps its magnetism (becomes a permanent magnet) after the bar magnet is removed.
2. The soft iron rod loses its magnetism (quickly) once the bar magnet is removed / becomes a temporary (induced) magnet only.
3. Steel is a hard magnetic material so it is difficult to magnetise but also difficult to demagnetise / it retains its magnetic domains once aligned.
4. Soft iron is a soft magnetic material so it magnetises easily but also loses its magnetism easily when the external magnetic field is removed.

## Related

- [Revision notes for Cambridge International IGCSE Physics (0625)](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)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-wants-to-magnetise-a-b7c6ef82) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.