AQA · GCSE · Physics
Course version: 8463 · Version from Sept 2016
The direction of a magnetic field line is from the north (seeking) pole of…
Full specification wording
Magnetic fields: The direction of a magnetic field line is from the north (seeking) pole of a magnet to the south(seeking) pole of the magnet.
Outside a magnet, field lines run from the north seeking pole round to the south seeking pole.
Checked against the AQA 8463 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 5 of 6
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
Outside a magnet, field lines run from the north seeking pole round to the south seeking pole. This follows from the direction convention: a north pole placed just outside the north end of a magnet would be pushed away from it and pulled towards the south end, so that is the way the arrows go. Inside the magnet the lines continue from south back to north, so every field line is a closed loop, although GCSE diagrams normally show only the part outside. Field lines never cross and never stop in mid air, and they are closest together at the poles. The statement that the lines point from south to north outside the magnet is a standard wrong answer.
What earns the marks
- Stating that field lines outside a magnet run from the north pole to the south pole.
- Drawing an arrowhead in that direction on every line.
- Stating that magnetic field lines never cross.
- Stating that the lines continue from south to north inside the magnet, so each line is a closed loop.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Drawing the arrows from south to north outside the magnet.
Leaving arrowheads off some of the lines in a field pattern.
Drawing lines that cross one another or meet at a single point.
Drawing lines that stop part way across the gap between two poles.
Exam tips
- Put an arrowhead on every line you draw, not just the first one.
- Keep the pattern symmetrical above and below the magnet.
- Name the pole the lines leave and the pole they enter in a written answer.
Try the lesson
The start of the Magnetic fields: The direction of a magnetic field line is from the north (seeking) pole of a magnet to the south(seeking) pole of the magnet. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Outside a bar magnet, which way does a magnetic field line point?
Listen
Outside a magnet, field lines run from the north seeking pole round to the south seeking pole. This follows from the direction convention: a north pole placed just outside the north end of a magnet would be pushed away from it and pulled towards the south end, so that is the way the arrows go. Inside the magnet the lines continue from south back to north, so every field line is a closed loop, although GCSE diagrams normally show only the part outside. Field lines never cross and never stop in mid air, and they are closest together at the poles. The statement that the lines point from south to north outside the magnet is a standard wrong answer. A strong answer earns marks for these points. stating that field lines outside a magnet run from the north pole to the south pole. drawing an arrowhead in that direction on every line. stating that magnetic field lines never cross. stating that the lines continue from south to north inside the magnet, so each line is a closed loop. Exam tip: Put an arrowhead on every line you draw, not just the first one.
See it
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
direction of field lines
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north to south outside
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closed loops
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lines never cross
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See every definition
- direction of field lines
- The direction of a magnetic field line is from the north (seeking) pole of a magnet to the south (seeking) pole of the magnet.
- north to south outside
- Outside a magnet, field lines run from the north seeking pole round to the south seeking pole, and the arrows go that way.
- closed loops
- Inside the magnet the lines continue from south back to north, so every field line is a closed loop.
- lines never cross
- Magnetic field lines never cross and never stop in mid air, and they are closest together at the poles.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
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