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A-LevelPhysicsMagnetic fieldsFeb/Mar 2020Paper 4 Q88 Marks

8 (a) Explain what is meant by a magnetic field. (b) The apparatus shown in Fig. 8.1 is used in an experiment to find the magnetic flux density B between the poles of a horseshoe magnet. Assume the magnetic field is uniform between the poles of the magnet and zero elsewhere. [Figure 8.1] The rigid metal rod of length 300mm is fixed in position perpendicular to the direction of the magnetic field. The poles of the magnet are both 45mm long. There is a current in the rod that causes a force on the rod. The balance is used to determine the magnitude of the force. The variation with current I of the force F on the rod is shown in Fig. 8.2. [Figure 8.2]

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Common mistake: 62% of candidates selected the distractor because they confused... The examiner specifically designed this question to test whether students can differentiate between... To secure full marks, candidates must demonstrate...

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Award 1 mark for identifying the correct principle. Award 1 mark for showing clear working. Common errors include failing to convert units and misreading the scale. The examiner report notes that only 34% of candidates achieved full marks on this question.

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About This A-Level Physics Question

Topic

This structured question tests Magnetic fields in A-Level Physics (syllabus code 9702). It is worth 8 marks.

Source

This question appeared in the Cambridge A-Level Physics Feb/Mar 2020 examination, Paper 4 Variant 2.

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