PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS

TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

PAPER-1 Multiple Choice

1-

2-An alternating current is passed through a wire stretched

between the poles of a magnet.

Which way will the wire move?

A left and right B right only
C up and down D up only

[May-2005] / [May-2009]

3- A wire hangs between the poles of a magnet.

When there is a current in the wire, in which direction does the wire
move?

4- The diagram shows a beam of

electrons entering a magnetic field.
What is the effect of the magnetic
field on the electrons?
A - They are deflected into the plane
of the diagram.
B - They are deflected out of the
plane of the diagram.
C - They are deflected towards the
bottom of the diagram.
D - They are deflected towards the
top of the diagram. [May-2004]
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

5-The diagrams show the forces F between two wires carrying currents out of the page. The magnetic fields
close to the wires are also shown. Which diagram is correct? B [Nov-2004] / [May-2007]

6-

7-

8- The diagram shows a beam of electrons entering a magnetic field. The direction of the field is into
the page.

What will be the initial direction of the deflection of the electrons as the beam passes through the
field? [Nov-2002]
A into the page
B out of the page
C towards the bottom of the page
D towards the top of the page

9-

10- Which of the following has no effect on the size of the turning effect on the coil of an electric
motor?
A the size of the current in the coil
B the direction of the current in the coil
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

C the number of turns in the coil

D the strength of the magnetic field [Nov-2003]

11- The diagram shows a beam of electrons entering a

magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic
field is out of the page.In which direction does the deflection
of the electrons occur?
A into the page
B out of the page
C towards the bottom of the page
D towards the top of the page [Nov-2003]

12-

13- A coil, carrying a current, is arranged

within a magnetic field. The coil experiences
forces that can
make it move.

In which direction does the coil move?

A along the magnetic field

B from X to Y
C out of the paper
D turns about the axis XY

[Nov-2005]

14- In a d.c. motor, the coil is wound on a soft iron cylinder. Why is soft iron used?
A - to increase the strength of the magnetic field
B - to increase the weight of the coil
C - to insulate the coil from the magnet
D - to prevent the coil from spinning too quickly [May-2007]

15- The diagram shows parts of a loudspeaker.

Which type of current is passed through the coil and why?

[May-2006]

current passed through coil reason why

A alternating to keep the magnetic field constant
B alternating to make the coil vibrate
C direct to keep the magnetic field constant
D direct to make the coil vibrate
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

16- Two parallel wires carry currents in the same direction.

Which diagram shows the magnetic field around each wire and the direction of the force on each
wire? A

[May-2006]

17- A metal ring screens a piece of equipment from a magnetic

field. Which metal should be used for the ring, and why?

metal reason
A copper the metal carries the field lines
around the equipment
B copper the metal is non-magnetic
C iron the metal carries the field lines
around the equipment
D iron the metal is non-magnetic
[Nov-2006] / [Nov-2010]

18- A copper wire is held between the poles of a magnet.

The current in the wire can be reversed. The poles of the magnet can
also be changed over.
In how many of the four directions shown can the force act on the
wire?
A1 B2 C3 D4 [Nov-2006]

19- The diagram shows a coil in a magnetic field.

When the coil is part of a d.c. motor, what must be connected directly to X and Y?
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

A - d.c. supply
B - slip rings
C - soft-iron core
D - split-ring commutator [Nov-2006]

20- A conductor is moving horizontally across a vertical magnetic field.

An e.m.f. is induced in the conductor. No deflection is seen on the ammeter. What is the reason for this?
A The ammeter is not between the poles. B The conductor is moving too slowly.
C The conductor is not cutting field lines. D The poles are too close together. [May-2008]

21- A d.c. motor consists of a coil of many turns rotating in a fixed magnetic field. The coil is connected to a
d.c. supply through a split-ring commutator.

Some changes are made, one at a time.

• The d.c. supply is reversed.
• The coil is turned before switching on, so that P starts on the right and Q on the left.
• The poles of the magnet are reversed.
• The turns on the coil are increased in number.
How many of these changes make the coil rotate in the opposite direction?
A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4 [May-2009]

22-The diagram shows an a.c. generator connected to a resistor.

 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

Some changes are made, one at a time.

• The speed of the drive is changed.
• The strength of the magnets is changed.
• The number of turns in the coil is changed.
• The value of the resistor is changed.
How many of these alter the value of the e.m.f. generated in the coil?
A 1 B 2 C 3 D 4 [May-2009]

23- Each diagram shows a cross-section through two parallel conductors, each carrying an electric current.
In the conductor on the left, the current is into the page; on the right, it is out of the page. Which diagram
shows the directions of the forces on the two conductors? C

[Nov-2009]

24- A long flexible wire is wrapped round two wooden pegs. A large current is passed in the direction
shown.

Which two pairs of lengths of wire attract each other?

first pair second pair

A J and K K and M
B J and K L and M
C J and L K and M
D J and L L and M
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

[May-2010]

25- The diagram shows a d.c. motor.

Why is a split-ring commutator used?

A to change the current direction in the coil as the coil passes the horizontal position B
to change the current direction in the coil as the coil passes the vertical position C to
change the current direction in the d.c. supply as the coil passes the horizontal position D to
change the current direction in the d.c. supply as the coil passes the vertical position

[May-2010]

26- Two parallel vertical wires P and Q are a small distance apart in air. There is a downwards electric
current in both wires. A force acts on Q owing to the current in P. This force is perpendicular to the wire Q.

What is the direction of the force on Q?

27- What does not alter the size of the turning effect on the coil of an electric motor?

A the direction of the current in the coil B the number of turns in the coil

C the size of the current in the coil D the strength of the magnetic field [Nov-2010]

28- The diagram shows an a.c. generator connected to an electrical circuit (load resistor).
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

Which statement is correct?

A The direction of the potential difference across the load resistor is always the same.

B The size of the induced e.m.f. depends on the number of turns in the coil.

C The size of the induced e.m.f. does not change as the coil turns.

D Winding the coil on a soft-iron cylinder makes no difference to the induced e.m.f. [Nov-2010]

29- The diagram shows a beam of electrons entering a magnetic field. The direction of the magnetic field is
downwards, towards the bottom of the page.

In which direction does the deflection of the electrons occur?

A into the page B out of the page

C towards the bottom of the page D towards the top of the page [Nov-2010]

PAPER-2 Theory

1- The diagram below shows a vertical circular coil carrying a current in the direction shown. A field
line is drawn through the centre of the coil as shown.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

i) Draw an arrow on this line to show the direction of the magnetic field.

ii) Draw on this diagram one field line which goes through A and one filed line which goes through B,
showing the shape of the magnetic field.

The second diagram shows a beam of protons C being

deflected by the magnetic field due to a current in a
long straight wire.

iii) Name and state the rule which determines the

direction of the deflection of the protons.

iv) Explain why the protons are deflected downward.

2- Fig. 7.1 shows a coil ABCD that can turn between the two poles of a magnet. Bare metal
paper clips support and pass current into and out of the coil.

(a) (i) State the direction of the force on the side AB.
.................................................................................................................................
(ii) Explain the reason for your choice of direction.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

(b) A student turns the coil through 180° so that AB is close to the N pole of the magnet.
(i) State the direction of the force on side AB of the coil.
.................................................................................................................................
(ii) The student releases the coil. Explain why the coil does not rotate continuously.
.................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................

(c) With the coil as shown in Fig. 7.1, the top half of the wire from C to the paper clip
is coated with an insulator, as shown in Fig. 7.2. Explain why the coil can now rotate
continuously. [Nov-2003]

3- The north pole of a bar magnet is held on the left of the wire and the south pole of another bar
magnet is held on the right, as shown in Fig. 10.2.
(i) State the direction of the magnetic field at the wire due to these
two poles.
(ii) The wire is flexible. Describe the effect of this magnetic field on
the current-carrying wire.

(iii) The current in the wire is now reversed. State the effect of this
on the wire.
(iv) Describe how this effect is put to use in a d.c. motor.
[Nov-2008]

4- (a) Fig. 7.1 shows a straight wire between the poles of a magnet. The wire carries a current
into the page.
(i) State the direction of the magnetic field
between the poles of the magnet.

(ii) On Fig. 7.1, draw an arrow to show the

direction of the force acting on the wire.

(b) Fig. 7.2 shows two wires.

Each wire carries a current into the page.

(i) On Fig. 7.2, draw the magnetic field due to the currents in the wires.

(ii) There is a force on each wire due to the current in the other wire.
On Fig. 7.2, draw an arrow on each wire to show these forces.
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

[May-2008]

5- Fig. 9.1 is a diagram of a simple d.c. motor.

The gap between the two halves of the split-ring commutator is so wide that a carbon brush can
only touch one half of the split-ring at any time. This protects the circuit. It also means that
sometimes the motor will not start when switched on.
The coil is rotated by vertical forces that act downwards on side AB and upwards on side CD. The
current causes a constant force of 3.0N on each side. The moment created by these forces varies
as the coil turns. The moment is a maximum when the coil is horizontal.
The distances AD and BC are both 0.065m.
(a) Explain why
(i) the carbon brushes must not be allowed to touch both halves of the split-ring at the
same time,
(ii) sometimes the motor does not start when switched on, even if there is no friction.
(b) (i) Define the moment of a force.
(ii) Calculate the value of the maximum moment created on the coil.
(iii) Explain why the moment is a maximum when the coil is horizontal.
(iv) Sketch a graph to suggest how the moment acting on the coil varies with time as the coil
rotates at constant speed. Label each axis. On the time axis, mark clearly the time taken
for one revolution of the coil.
(c) (i) State the measurements you would make in order to find the electrical power input to the
 PHYSICS O - LEVEL PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
TOPIC-20 Magnetic Effect

motor and state how your measurements are used to find the electrical power.
(ii) Draw a diagram of the circuit you would use to make these measurements.

[Nov-2004]

PAPER-4 Alternative to Practical