Electromagnetism: Edexcel International GCSE Physics questions

Every Edexcel International GCSE Physics exam question on Electromagnetism (specification points 6.8–6.14), 2019–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.

All 68 questions on Electromagnetism, as a list

June 2025, Paper 1, Q5 (6 marks): The diagram shows a simple direct current (d.c.) electric motor. coil magnet magnet split-ring commutator direct current brushes Explain why the coil turns cont
June 2025, Paper 1, Q10(b) (4 marks): Before the power supply is switched on, the reading of the balance is 194.95 g. After the power supply is switched on, the reading of the balance is 193.80 g. C
June 2025, Paper 1, Q10(c)(i) (1 mark): Plot the student’s results on the grid. (1)
June 2025, Paper 1, Q10(c)(ii) (1 mark): Draw the line of best fit. (1) 196.00 195.75 195.50 195.25 195.00 Balance reading in g 194.75 194.50 194.25 194.00 0.00 0.50 1.00 1.50 2.00 2.50 3.00 Current in
June 2025, Paper 1, Q10(c)(iii) (3 marks): The student changes the connections between the metal rod and the power supply to reverse the direction of the current. Draw another line on the graph to show h
November 2024, Paper 1, Q5(b) (2 marks): Diagram 2 shows a current‑carrying wire in the uniform magnetic field between the poles of a magnet. The arrow on the wire shows the direction of current. Draw
November 2024, Paper 1, Q5(c) (4 marks): Diagram 3 shows a rectangular loop of wire carrying a current in a uniform magnetic field. permanent magnet B C N S A D coil + – Diagram 3 Explain why the loop
June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(a) (3 marks): Describe the construction of a simple electromagnet that is producing a magnetic field. You may draw a diagram to help your answer. (3)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Use the left-hand rule to determine the direction of the force acting on the proton. (1)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): Explain how the force on the proton changes as the proton moves through the magnetic field. You may add to the diagram to help your answer. (2)
June 2024, Paper 2, Q6(b)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest why the velocity of the proton changes. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q8(b)(i) (1 mark): Give the direction of the magnetic field. (1)
June 2024 (R), Paper 2, Q8(b)(ii) (2 marks): Suggest how increasing the strength of the magnetic field will affect the proton when it is moving in the magnetic field. (2)
November 2023, Paper 1, Q4(d)(ii) (1 mark): A small plotting compass is placed near the wires in the circuit. When the switch is turned on, the compass needle moves to a new position. Give a reason why th
June 2023, Paper 1, Q12(a) (1 mark): Suggest why there is a magnetic field around the transmitter coil. (1)
June 2023, Paper 1, Q12(c) (4 marks): Diagram 3 shows the circuit for the receiver coil. receiver coil loudspeaker Diagram 3 As a result of the alternating current in the gold ring, there is an alte
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(d)(i) (2 marks): Draw an arrow on diagram 2 to show the direction of the force on the wire due to the magnetic field. Assume that the magnetic field is uniform. (2)
June 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q4(d)(ii) (2 marks): State two changes that could be made that would decrease the magnitude of the force on the wire in diagram 2. (2) 1 2
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q6(a) (2 marks): Diagram 1 shows the magnetic field around a straight section of copper wire. copper wire Diagram 1 Explain why the copper wire has the magnetic field shown in t
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b)(i) (1 mark): Suggest a suitable safety precaution for the student’s investigation. (1)
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b)(ii) (2 marks): The table shows the student’s results. Current at which the load falls in A Mass of load in g 1 2 3 Mean 100 0.28 0.31 0.31 0.30 200 0.60 0.57 0.57 0.58 300 0.9
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b)(iii) (3 marks): On the grid, plot a graph of the mean current against the mass of the load. The scale for the mass axis has been done for you. (3)
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b)(iv) (1 mark): Draw the line of best fit. (1) 0 100 200 300 400 500 600 Mass in g
June 2023 (R), Paper 2, Q6(b)(v) (3 marks): The student predicts that a load of 1.0 kg will fall when the current in the electromagnet is 3.0 A. Comment on the student’s prediction. (3)
January 2023, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (3 marks): On diagram 1, draw the shape and direction of the magnetic field produced by the current in the wire. (3)
January 2023, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (2 marks): Describe a method the student could use to show the shape of the magnetic field produced by the current in the wire. (2)
January 2023, Paper 2, Q6(b) (3 marks): The student then removes the card and sets up a second wire next to the first wire, as shown in diagram 2. first second wire wire Diagram 2 The current in both
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a)(i) (2 marks): Explain why the compass needles turn when the current is switched on. (2)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a)(ii) (2 marks): Using evidence from the compass needles in diagram 2, draw on diagram 2 the shape and direction of a magnetic field line produced by the current in the wire. (2
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(a)(iii) (1 mark): Suggest what happens to the magnetic field when the current in the wire is reversed. (1)
January 2023 (R), Paper 1, Q11(b) (2 marks): The current in the wire is turned off. Diagram 3 shows the wire placed in a uniform magnetic field. wire N S power supply magnet Diagram 3 The current is now sw
June 2022, Paper 1, Q12(c) (1 mark): Photograph 2 shows the structure of the ammeter. The ammeter has a needle attached to a coil of wire which can move freely around a magnet. When there is a curr
June 2022, Paper 1, Q12(d)(i) (1 mark): Which of these factors has been decreased by the student’s adjustment? (1) A accuracy B precision C reliability D resolution
June 2022, Paper 1, Q12(d)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest how the student could correct the readings taken from this ammeter due to this error without adjusting the ammeter. (1)
June 2022 (R), Paper 1, Q6(a) (4 marks): Describe how the loudspeaker produces sound. (4)
June 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q3(c)(i) (1 mark): A magnetic force acts on the positively charged sulfur particle. This force makes the particle travel in a circle. The force is labelled F. Use the left-hand ru
January 2022, Paper 1, Q12(b)(i) (4 marks): Explain why the coil starts to rotate when there is a current in the coil. (4)
January 2022, Paper 1, Q12(b)(ii) (1 mark): Which side of the coil moves vertically upwards? (1) A WX B XY C YZ D ZW
January 2022, Paper 2, Q4(a) (5 marks): The student uses a device called a Hall probe, which can be placed anywhere in the magnetic field to measure its strength at that point. Design a suitable metho
January 2022, Paper 2, Q4(b) (4 marks): The graph shows the results of the student’s investigation. 50 40 30 Strength of magnetic field in arbitrary units 20 10 0 0 10 20 30 40 50 Distance in cm The s
January 2022, Paper 2, Q6(a) (4 marks): There is an electromagnet inside the MRI machine. Describe the construction of an electromagnet. You may draw a diagram to help your answer. (4)
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Explain the purpose of the brushes and the commutator in the d.c. motor. (3)
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q5(b)(i) (2 marks): The diagram shows a positively charged hydrogen nucleus in a uniform magnetic field directed out of the page. magnetic field out of page force positively charge
January 2022 (R), Paper 2, Q5(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest how engineers working on the tokamak could increase the force on the nucleus. (1)
November 2021, Paper 1, Q7 (5 marks): The diagram shows the construction of a simple loudspeaker. paper tube magnet N S N coil of wire a.c. power supply loudspeaker cone A coil of wire is wrapped ar
November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a)(i) (1 mark): Name a suitable metal for the core. (1)
November 2021, Paper 2, Q6(a)(ii) (1 mark): State what must be done to the coil of wire to produce a magnetic field. (1)
June 2021, Paper 2, Q4(b)(i) (3 marks): Diagram 1 shows a coil of wire wrapped around a cardboard tube. The coil is fixed to the cardboard tube. On diagram 1, draw field lines to represent the magneti
June 2021, Paper 2, Q4(b)(ii) (3 marks): Diagram 2 shows a model of a loudspeaker that uses the coil and the cardboard tube. The cardboard tube is fixed to a thin piece of card, which is clamped at bot
June 2021, Paper 2, Q4(b)(iv) (1 mark): Suggest a change to the apparatus that would increase the loudness of the sound when the frequency of the alternating current is 10 kHz. (1)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q9(c)(i) (4 marks): Describe how the loudspeaker in the radio converts this a.c. signal into a sound wave. (4)
November 2020, Paper 1, Q9(c)(ii) (1 mark): State a modification that would increase the force on the loudspeaker coil. (1)
November 2020, Paper 2, Q7(a) (3 marks): Describe how to find the shape of the magnetic field produced by the loop of wire. (3)
November 2020, Paper 2, Q7(b) (4 marks): Diagram 2 shows the view from above the card with two cross-sections of the loop of wire. Key current out of page current into page Diagram 2 On diagram 2, draw
November 2020, Paper 2, Q7(c)(i) (1 mark): These diagrams show the magnetic field acting on a cross-section of wire when the current in the wire is out of the page. A B force force magnetic field magneti
November 2020, Paper 2, Q7(c)(ii) (2 marks): The magnetic field acting on the cross-section of wire is produced by the current in the other side of the loop of wire. Explain why there is no effect on the d
November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(a) (3 marks): The SC used electromagnets to produce the strong magnetic fields. Describe the construction of a simple electromagnet. You may draw a diagram to support your an
November 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(b) (1 mark): The diagram shows a proton moving at velocity v in the magnetic field produced by the SC. v The direction of the magnetic field is into the page. Using the left
January 2020, Paper 2, Q8(a) (1 mark): Diagram 1 shows a positively charged proton moving downwards in a uniform magnetic field. magnetic field proton force velocity Diagram 1 The proton experiences
January 2020, Paper 2, Q8(b) (3 marks): When a current passes through a flat circular coil, a magnetic field is produced. Complete diagram 2 by drawing the magnetic field of the flat circular coil. (3
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q12(a) (1 mark): Diagram 2 shows four different arrangements of the apparatus. The symbol shows that the current is directed out of the page. N S S N W X N N S S Y Z Diagram 2 W
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q12(b)(iii) (2 marks): Explain one method of increasing the magnitude of the magnetic force on the wire. (2)
January 2020 (R), Paper 1, Q12(b)(iv) (2 marks): Explain how the circuit could be changed to make the wire vibrate. (2)
January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(b)(i) (1 mark): Draw an arrow to show the direction of the force on the proton. (1)
January 2020 (R), Paper 2, Q7(b)(ii) (2 marks): Accurately measure the diameter of the proton’s path. (2) diameter = cm
June 2019, Paper 1, Q10(b)(i) (3 marks): Explain what happens when there is a current in the coil. (3)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q10(b)(ii) (1 mark): Draw an arrow on the diagram to show the force acting on side CD of the coil when there is a current in the coil. (1)
June 2019, Paper 1, Q10(b)(iii) (3 marks): Explain how the ammeter could be changed so that it could measure smaller currents. (3)

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