GCSE›AQA GCSE Physics›Mind mapsMagnets and Magnetic FieldsAQA GCSE Physics: Mind mapStudy pack PDFAlso for this subtopic:Revision notesFlashcardsSubtopic testCover factsPoles and forcesEvery magnet has a north and a south poleLike poles repel, unlike poles attractMagnetism is a non-contact forceForce acts at a distance, so magnets never need to touchMagnetic materialsMagnetic: iron, steel, cobalt and nickelWood, plastic and copper are not magneticMagnetic fieldRegion where a force acts on magnets or magnetic materialsStrongest at the poles, weaker further awayDirection = direction of force on a north poleField lines run from N to S outside the magnetMagnetismmagnets and their fieldsNSFeCoNiPermanent vs inducedPermanent magnet has its own field all the timeInduced magnet is magnetic only inside another fieldInduced magnets always attract, never repelInduced magnets lose magnetism quickly when removedPlotting and EarthPlot field lines with a plotting compassMark needle direction, then move compass to that pointLines closer together means stronger fieldCompass points north-south as Earth has a magnetic coreExam tipsGive field direction as force on a north poleNever say magnets 'touch' to attract or repelCloser field lines: quick way to compare strength