4-5.9 Summarize the properties of magnets and electromagnets (including polarity, attraction/repulsion, and strength).
Properties of Magnets
Essential Question: What are the properties of magnets (including polarity, attraction/repulsion, and strength)?
Properties of Magnets
A magnet is a piece of metal that can pull some other metal objects toward it. Most magnets contain iron, nickel, or cobalt. Magnets can pull objects that contain these same metals. A magnet does not have to touch an object to pull it.
Every magnet has two areas, or poles, where the pull is strongest. One is called the north pole. The other is called the south pole. The poles of a bar magnet or horseshoe magnet are at its ends. Some magnets are shaped like flat circles or donuts. The poles of these magnets are on the top and bottom.
Try putting two magnets near each other with the north pole of one facing the south pole of the other. If the magnets are strong enough, they will pull closer together, or attract each other. Opposite or unlike poles attract. Unlike poles of the magnets will attract each other.
Now turn the two magnets so that the two north poles or two south poles face each other. The magnets will push away from each other, or repel each other. Like poles repel.
Every magnet has a magnetic field. A magnetic field is the area around a magnet where it can attract or repel another object. You cannot really see a magnetic field. But if you sprinkle iron filings around a magnet, the iron filings will line up in the magnetic field. The field is strongest around the poles.
Magnets attract objects that contain nickel, iron, or cobalt. Magnets do not pull on other metals. A magnet will not stick to an aluminum soda can. A magnet will not stick to a penny, which is made of zinc and copper. A magnet will stick to a steel paper clip because steel contains iron. If you hold a strong magnet near an iron nail, this object will move toward the magnet.
Essential Question: What are the properties of magnets (including polarity, attraction/repulsion, and strength)?
Properties of Magnets
A magnet is a piece of metal that can pull some other metal objects toward it. Most magnets contain iron, nickel, or cobalt. Magnets can pull objects that contain these same metals. A magnet does not have to touch an object to pull it.
Every magnet has two areas, or poles, where the pull is strongest. One is called the north pole. The other is called the south pole. The poles of a bar magnet or horseshoe magnet are at its ends. Some magnets are shaped like flat circles or donuts. The poles of these magnets are on the top and bottom.
Try putting two magnets near each other with the north pole of one facing the south pole of the other. If the magnets are strong enough, they will pull closer together, or attract each other. Opposite or unlike poles attract. Unlike poles of the magnets will attract each other.
Now turn the two magnets so that the two north poles or two south poles face each other. The magnets will push away from each other, or repel each other. Like poles repel.
Every magnet has a magnetic field. A magnetic field is the area around a magnet where it can attract or repel another object. You cannot really see a magnetic field. But if you sprinkle iron filings around a magnet, the iron filings will line up in the magnetic field. The field is strongest around the poles.
Magnets attract objects that contain nickel, iron, or cobalt. Magnets do not pull on other metals. A magnet will not stick to an aluminum soda can. A magnet will not stick to a penny, which is made of zinc and copper. A magnet will stick to a steel paper clip because steel contains iron. If you hold a strong magnet near an iron nail, this object will move toward the magnet.
Learning Task #1:
Students will explore the properties of magnets with a partner by using a teacher made magnet kit (including 2 magnets, some paperclips, and various magnetic and non-magnetic items). As a class, test various sizes/ shapes of magnets to determine which is strongest. Use student predictions/ suggestions for strategies on how to test this question. Students will demonstrate attraction and repulsion to a partner and draw a diagram of magnets attracting and repelling (using “N” and “S” labels and arrows). |
Resources:
Discovery Ed Techbook: ● Magnets and Electricity Reading A-Z Book: Magnetism DE Texts: ● Magnets do the Darndest Things Reading Passage ● What a Surprise Reading Passage ABDO e-Book: Magnets Lerner e-Book: Attract and Repel Lerner e-Book: Investigating Magnetism DE Interactives: ● Electricity and Magnetism Fun-damental ● Magnets and Electricity Exploration |