Induced magnetism
2 marks · EasyExplain why an iron nail loses its magnetism when a permanent magnet is removed from it.
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Iron is magnetically soft, so its induced magnetism is temporary and disappears when the magnetic field is removed.
Also accept: Because iron only remains magnetised when in a magnetic field.
Common mistakes: Saying it remains a magnet after the magnet is removed (confused with steel).
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Marking points
B1 · 1 mark · States that iron is magnetically soft or temporary magnetism is induced.
B2 · 1 mark · States that the magnetism disappears when the magnetic field is removed.
Worked solution
Iron is a magnetically soft material. When the permanent magnet is removed, the inducing magnetic field is gone, so the nail’s magnetism disappears.