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Magnetism — KCSE Physics

KCSE Physics · 85 practice questions · 9 syllabus objectives

28 easy29 medium28 hard

What You'll Learn

Key learning outcomes for this topic, aligned to the KNEC KCSE syllabus.

Explain Earth’s magnetism, angle of dip, magnetic storage with keepers, and the repulsion test for polarity

State the properties of magnets and magnetic materials; describe magnetic field patterns around bar magnets and between poles

Explain the domain theory of magnetism and describe methods of magnetisation and demagnetisation

Distinguish between paramagnetic, diamagnetic and ferromagnetic materials and give examples of each

Identify magnetic and non-magnetic materials; distinguish ferromagnetic, paramagnetic and diamagnetic; state properties of magnets

Use the domain theory to explain magnetisation, demagnetisation and magnetic saturation

Describe methods of magnetisation (stroking, electrical, induction) and demagnetisation (heating, hammering, AC solenoid)

Define magnetic field, sketch field patterns for magnets, and describe field plotting using iron filings and compass

Magnetism

Sample Questions

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1
easySHORT ANSWER3 marks

List three methods of magnetisation and briefly describe each method. (3 marks)

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Part (a) — 3 marks
Stroking: rubbing a magnet along a magnetic material in one direction aligns the domains (1 mk)
Electrical: passing an electric current through a coil wrapped around a magnetic material induces magnetism (1 mk)
Induction: placing a magnetic material in a magnetic field causes it to become magnetised without direct contact (1 mk)
2
easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

Identify and explain two ways in which the domain theory accounts for the process of magnetisation in ferromagnetic materials. (4 marks)

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Part (a) — 4 marks
Domains align in the direction of the external magnetic field, increasing overall magnetisation (1 mk)
Increase in the number of aligned domains leads to stronger magnetic fields within the material (1 mk)
Domains can grow in size as more become aligned, enhancing the magnetic effect (1 mk)
The material retains magnetisation after the external field is removed due to domain alignment (1 mk)
3
easySHORT ANSWER4 marks

Identify and explain the differences between paramagnetic, diamagnetic, and ferromagnetic materials, providing one example of each. (4 marks)

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Part (a) — 3 marks
Paramagnetic materials are weakly attracted to magnetic fields and do not retain magnetism; e.g. aluminium (1 mk)
Diamagnetic materials are weakly repelled by magnetic fields and also do not retain magnetism; e.g. copper (1 mk)
Ferromagnetic materials are strongly attracted to magnets and can retain magnetism; e.g. iron (1 mk)
Part (b) — 1 mark
Examples: Paramagnetic - aluminium, Diamagnetic - copper, Ferromagnetic - iron (1 mk)
4

Define the domain theory of magnetism and explain how a bar magnet can be magnetised. (4 marks)

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Why Practise Magnetism?

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