AQA GCSE Physics — Induced Magnetism simulation
This interactive simulation covers the AQA GCSE Physics topic of induced magnetism (Magnetism and Electromagnetism, Paper 2). Students drag a bar magnet toward a ferromagnetic material and observe how magnetic domains align, induced poles form, and field lines develop in real time.
Tab 1 – Soft Iron shows temporary induced magnetism. As the magnet approaches, domains progressively align and the iron bar develops labelled N and S poles — with the near face always becoming the opposite pole to the magnet’s nearest pole (unlike poles attract). An attraction arrow shows the force on the bar. When the magnet is moved away, domains return to random alignment and the bar loses its magnetism immediately, demonstrating the key property of magnetically soft materials.
Tab 2 – Hard Steel shows permanent induced magnetism. Students bring the magnet close to the steel bar, then drag it away past a threshold distance. The steel retains its induced polarity and field lines persist — the bar has become a permanent magnet. A reset button allows the sequence to be repeated. This directly contrasts the behaviour of magnetically hard materials against Tab 1.
Both tabs include animated field lines traced using dipole physics, domain arrows showing alignment, N/S pole labels that appear as induction strengthens, and the full ClassAdapt SEND accessibility suite (Irlen overlays, CVD filters, dyslexia spacing, high contrast, text scaling, pause and reduce motion).
Suggested class activity — Predict, Observe, Explain
Works well as a starter or mid-lesson consolidation for the magnetism unit.
Setup: Display the simulation on a class screen or share the link for individual devices. Students work in pairs.
- Predict (2 min). Before touching the simulation, students write down: what poles they expect to appear on the iron bar as the magnet approaches, and what they think will happen when the magnet is removed. Prompt: “Which end of the iron bar will be attracted to the magnet’s S pole, and why?”
- Observe – Soft Iron (3 min). Students drag the magnet slowly toward the bar and pause at different distances. They sketch the domain diagram at three distances: far, medium, close. They note what happens to the poles when the magnet is removed.
- Observe – Hard Steel (3 min). Students repeat with Tab 2, this time deliberately dragging the magnet away after inducing strong magnetism. They record that the steel retains its poles and describe the difference in behaviour.
- Explain (5 min). Students write two sentences using the words domain, aligned, magnetically soft, and magnetically hard to explain what they observed. This maps directly onto AQA 6-mark explain questions.
- Extend. Ask: “Why are permanent magnets made from steel rather than iron?” and “Give one use of a magnetically soft material and explain why soft iron is chosen.” (Electromagnet cores, magnetic shielding — soft iron can be switched on and off.)
AQA specification links: 7.1 — poles of a magnet, magnetic materials; 7.3 — induced magnetism, magnetically hard and soft materials, permanent and temporary magnets.