plumiUses of magnetism: OCR GCSE Physics A questions
Every OCR GCSE Physics A exam question on P4.2 Uses of magnetism, 2018–2025, with its mark scheme and examiner’s report.
Paper
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Exam
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Calculations
Q20(c)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q20(c)(ii)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
- Your answer
Q21(a)
The whole paper ↗Q21(b)
The whole paper ↗Q21(c)
The whole paper ↗Q21(e)
The whole paper ↗Q23(a)
The whole paper ↗Q23(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q23(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q23(b)(iii)
The whole paper ↗Q22(a)
The whole paper ↗Q22(b)
The whole paper ↗- Your answer
Q22(a)
The whole paper ↗Q22(b)(i)
The whole paper ↗Q22(b)(ii)
The whole paper ↗Q22(c)
The whole paper ↗Q16(a)
The whole paper ↗
All 56 questions on Uses of magnetism, as a list
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q20(c)(i) (1 mark): State the type of transformer used in the games console. [1]
- June 2025, Paper 2 Foundation, Q20(c)(ii) (3 marks): The current in the primary coil of the transformer is 0.51 A. Calculate the current in the secondary coil of the transformer. Assume the transformer is 100% eff
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q5 (1 mark): A current–carrying wire is in a magnetic field. Under which conditions will the wire experience the smallest force? Use the Equation Sheet. Magnetic flux densit
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): A current-carrying wire is placed between the two poles of a horseshoe magnet. N S The circuit is switched on. In which direction does the wire move? A Down B L
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a) (2 marks): A student writes four statements about how a transformer works. A This induces an alternating p.d. in the secondary coil. B This produces a changing magnetic fi
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(b) (2 marks): Explain why a transformer does not work if the current in the primary coil is direct current (d.c.). [2]
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(c) (3 marks): A step-up transformer increases the potential difference from 230 V a.c. to 4600 V a.c. There are 25 turns on the primary coil. Calculate the number of turns on
- June 2025, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(e) (2 marks): Generators, motors, microphones and headphones all use magnetism to work. Draw lines to connect each device with the correct description of how it works. Device
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q23(a) (2 marks): When the battery is connected to the primary coil the transformer does not work and the voltmeter reads zero. Describe what change the student needs to make to
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q23(b)(i) (2 marks): Describe the relationship between the number of turns on the secondary coil and the potential difference across the secondary coil. [2]
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q23(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the current in the secondary coil when there are 120 turns on the secondary coil. Assume the transformer is 100% efficient. Use the Equation Sheet. Cu
- June 2025, Paper 4 Higher, Q23(b)(iii) (2 marks): The potential difference across the primary coil in the student’s transformer is 12 V. The student suggests that this transformer is the same as the type of tra
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(a) (2 marks): Draw: • one line to connect each type of transformer with the one box that describes what it does • one line to connect what each type of transformer does with
- June 2024, Paper 2 Foundation, Q22(b) (2 marks): The table shows information for a transformer. Potential difference across primary coil 132 000 V Current in secondary coil 1800 A Potential difference across s
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): Which devices convert current variations in electrical circuits into pressure variations in sound waves? A Loudspeakers and headphones B Loudspeakers and microp
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(a) (2 marks): Fig. 22.1 shows a diagram of a simple electric motor. Fig. 22.1 Coil N S Explain why the coil rotates when a current passes through it. [2]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(b)(i) (4 marks): Fig. 22.2 shows a diagram of a dynamo and Fig. 22.3 shows a diagram of an alternator. Describe two similarities and two differences between how these devices wo
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(b)(ii) (1 mark): Suggest one way to increase the output of these devices. [1]
- June 2024, Paper 3 Higher, Q22(c) (3 marks): A conductor in a magnetic field of magnetic flux density 1.5 T experiences a force of 0.81 N. The current in the conductor is 1.2 A. Calculate the length of the
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(a) (2 marks): Draw: • one line to connect each type of transformer with the one box that describes what it does • one line to connect what each type of transformer does with
- June 2024, Paper 4 Higher, Q16(b) (2 marks): The table shows information for a transformer. Potential difference across primary coil 132 000 V Current in secondary coil 1800 A Potential difference across s
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q10 (1 mark): Which diagram shows the correct thumb and finger labels when using Fleming’s left-hand rule? A B Field Motion Current Field Motion Current C D Field Motion Moti
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q14 (1 mark): A teacher makes a model transformer as shown in the diagram. Secondary coil Primary coil (10 turns) (5 turns) Output Input voltage voltage (12 V) Soft iron core
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(a) (4 marks): Explain two similarities and two differences between the operation of a loudspeaker and the operation of a microphone. Similarities Differences [4]
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(b) (3 marks): The diagram shows a current-carrying wire in the magnetic field between the North pole and the South pole of a magnet. N S Describe and explain what happens to
- June 2023, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(c) (3 marks): A current of 5.0 A passes through a wire with a length of 0.75 m. The wire is in a field of magnetic flux density 0.30 T. Calculate the force acting on the wire
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(a) (4 marks): A student investigates how the potential difference across the secondary coil of a transformer changes with the number of turns on the secondary coil. The diagr
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(b)(i) (3 marks): Calculate the p.d. across the secondary coil of the transformer. Use the Equation Sheet. p.d. across the secondary coil = V [3]
- June 2023, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(b)(ii) (3 marks): Calculate the current in the primary coil of the transformer. Use the Equation Sheet. Current in primary coil = A [3]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a)(i) (1 mark): Suggest why the coil turns when a current flows. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(a)(ii) (2 marks): In which direction will this motor turn? State the name of the rule you used to work this out. Direction Name of rule [2]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q21(b) (2 marks): Suggest two ways in which the size of the force on the coil could be increased. 1 2 [2]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(i) (1 mark): Calculate the mean time that the magnet takes to pass through the copper tube. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(ii) (2 marks): The student has made a mistake when recording their results in the table. Identify the mistake and suggest a correction. Mistake: Correction: [2]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(iii) (1 mark): The student claims that their data shows that their experiment is reproducible. Explain if the student is correct. [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(a)(iv) (1 mark): Why did the student repeat their experiment 5 times and calculate a mean? [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(b)(i) (1 mark): Calculate how many times longer it took the magnet to fall compared to the piece of metal. Number of times longer: [1]
- June 2022, Paper 3 Higher, Q23(c) (3 marks): Explain why the magnet took longer to fall than the piece of metal. Include ideas about electromagnetic induction in your answer. [3]
- June 2022, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(c)(i) (2 marks): The potential difference across the primary coil is 900 V. The potential difference across the secondary coil is 36 000 V. The current in the primary coil is 28
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q12 (1 mark): A transformer has 100 turns in the primary coil and 200 turns in the secondary coil. The potential difference across the primary coil is 30 V. What is the poten
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(a) (2 marks): Explain what will happen to the wire when the switch is closed. [2]
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(b) (3 marks): A wire of length 0.25 m experiences a force of 0.15 N when a current of 5.0 A flows. Calculate the magnetic flux density of the field. Use an equation from the
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(c)(i) (3 marks): Compare the similarities and differences of a motor and a generator. Include ideas about how they work. [3]
- November 2021, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(c)(ii) (2 marks): How does the output current of an alternator differ from that of a dynamo? [2]
- November 2020, Paper 2 Foundation, Q14 (1 mark): Which row in the table is correct for a step-down transformer? Current Potential difference A Decreases Decreases B Decreases Increases C Increases Decreases D
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): A student inserts a magnet into a coil of wire. N S Meter What is induced across the ends of the coil of wire? A Charge B Magnetism C Potential difference D Res
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q9 (1 mark): Which of the following graphs shows the typical output potential difference, Vout, for a dynamo? A B Vout Vout 0 0 Time Time C D Vout Vout 0 0 Time Time Your an
- November 2020, Paper 3 Higher, Q11 (1 mark): A wire is placed between the poles of a magnet, perpendicular to the magnetic field lines. Direction of current N S Which direction will the wire move when a cu
- November 2020, Paper 4 Higher, Q21(c) (2 marks): The water can also be heated using a 12 V heater. A transformer is used to change a 120 V supply into 12 V. The current in the secondary coil is 9.0 A. Calculat
- June 2019, Paper 2 Foundation, Q13 (1 mark): The table shows the current and potential difference (p.d.) for four different transformers. Which row shows the correct data for a step-up transformer? Primary
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(a) (6 marks): A student investigates building model transformers in the laboratory. Look at the diagram. Iron core Input voltage = 12 V Output voltage Primary coil Secondary
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(b)(i) (2 marks): Identify one of the incorrect words and write a correct sentence to replace the mistake. Incorrect word Corrected sentence [2]
- June 2019, Paper 3 Higher, Q20(b)(ii) (1 mark): Name a device which uses this effect in reverse. [1]
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q7 (1 mark): A wire is placed inside a horseshoe magnet. S N Which direction will the wire move when the switch is closed? A Downwards B Left C Right D Upwards Your answer [
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q8 (1 mark): What output voltage does the transformer produce? 50 turns 250 turns 2 V A 0.2 V B 0.4 V C 5 V D 10 V [1] Your answer
- June 2018, Paper 3 Higher, Q15 (1 mark): A 0.5 m length of wire is placed inside four different magnetic fields. Magnetic Field Force on wire (N) Current in wire (A) A 2.0 0.1 B 2.0 0.2 C 4.0 0.1 D 4.0
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