- Pencil
- Scissors
- Tape
- Two Bar Magnets
- Straw
- Small Box
- Modeling Clay
- 2 Tooth Picks
- A Quarter
- A Sheet of Card Stock
Step One:
Measure the length of the box using the straw. Cut the straw long enough to fit the length of the box. Tape the straw pieces to the bottom of the box.
Step Two:
Trace the quarter on the card stock using the pencil. Cut the circles out. Put the tooth picks through the straws with the ends sticking out. Place the circles on the end of the tooth picks. To keep the tooth picks on, roll a small ball of modeling clay and place on the end of the tooth picks.
Step three:
Put one of the magnets in the small box. Then place the lid on the box.
Step 4:
Take the other magnet and hold it in front of the box. The magnets will conduct and depending on the charge the car will either roll forwards or backwards.
Explanation: Each magnet has two poles. The poles are North and South poles. When the magnets are placed together, they either attract or repel. When the magnets are held with the North or South poles facing each other, they will repel. When the magnets are held with the North pole facing the South pole they will attract.
N<- ->N
S<- ->S
N-><-S
S-><-N
Tennessee Science Standards:
GLE 0407.Inq.1 Explore different scientific phenomena by asking questions, making logical predictions, planning investigations and recording data.
GLE 0407.Inq.3 Select and use appropriate tools and simple equipment to conduct an investigation.
GLE 0407.Inq.3 Organize data into appropriate tables, graphs, drawings, or diagrams.
GLE 0407.12.1 Explore the interactions between magnets.
GLE 0407.12.2 Observe that electrically charged objects exert a pull on other materials.
Mini Lesson
Description: This lesson provides an introduction to magnets and their properties. Students will learn how to locate poles on various kinds of magnets. Students will also observe how like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other. In addition, students will become familiar with natural magnets and the different materials a magnet can attract.
Goals: To introduce students to the properties of magnets.
Objectives:
Students will be able to locate poles on various kinds of magnets.
Students will be able to identify the strongest parts of a magnet.
Students will be able to observe that like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other.
Magnetism is a force all around us. It cannot be seen but the way it acts can be seen. Magnets exert a force of attraction on anything made of iron. Anything made of iron will be attracted to a magnet. A magnet will often not attract things that are not made of, or do not contain iron. However, scientist have developed and discovered materials that are non-ferrous (no iron) that will act as magnets and be attracted to magnets.
N
Look at the magnet above. It is called a bar magnet. It has two ends. The end labeled N means north. The end labeled S means south. These two ends are the magnetic poles. The force of a magnet is strongest at the poles. If you tie a string to the middle of a bar magnet, the north end will point north and the south end will point south.
The earth is like a giant magnet! The magnetic fields surrounding earth are near the North Pole and the South Pole. That is why the poles or ends of a bar magnet are called north and south.
The south pole of a magnet attracts the north pole of another magnet. Unlike Poles AttractRepel means "push away" or "push apart."
The north pole of the magnet repels the north pole of the other magnet. Like poles repel.
Try it yourself! Get two bar magnets and experiment with them.
Directions: Answer the questions about magnetism.
1. Which one will a magnet attract?
A. plastic
B. comb
C. paper clip
D. shoelace
2. Which one will a magnet not attract?
A. glass
B. screw
C. nail
The south end of a bar magnet is labeled. The north end of a bar magnet is labeled. A bar magnet is strongest at the middle poles. The earth is like a giant force magnet iron. The north end of a bar magnet always points to the north. The south end of a bar magnet always points to the south.
