Michael Adoe

Ivan Pattiasina
Science Physics
25 November 2014
Design Physics Experiment
How the Strength of a Magnet Varies with Temperature
Introduction
The objective of this experiment is to find out if the strength of a magnet
varies with temperature. It is also to determine in which state of temperature can the
magnet have its strongest strength. This experiment has a purpose to see whether
magnets still functions well although they are being placed and used in places with
different extreme temperatures of hot and cold. The magnet used in this experiment
only works for permanent magnets, magnets that keeps their magnetic characteristics,
which means that they will always create a magnetic force. Magnets are able to
attract with another magnetic material, which are called ferromagnetic that contains
magnetic domains, north and south pole. These domains are able to form random
magnetic force, when they repel with other magnets, or aligned magnetic force, when
they are attracted.
According to the research done by the scientist, when the magnets are heated
up, they tend to create more random orientation inside the magnet, thus decreasing the
strength of magnetism. Once a magnet is heated up and loses its magnetism, this state
is called curie point, where the magnet will no longer attract any ferromagnetic
materials because the arrow of magnetic field are not able to align again. But what
will happen to the magnet if it is being cooled into low, minus temperature. This

experiment will tell if the magnet will have stronger or weaker magnetic force when it
is being cooled.
Hypothesis
Since magnet will lose its power of magnetism because of the high
temperature that heats the magnet, cooling the magnet will increase the strength of the
magnet because the magnetic force arrow will freeze and that creates the magnet to
attract.
Variables
Independent (The things needed for this experiment to work)
The different temperatures used to treat the magnet.
Dependent (The result manipulates from the independent variable)
Strength of the magnet when being heated or cooled.
Amount of ferromagnetic materials that are attracted by the magnet.
Controlled (Things that needs to be the same to have a consistent result)
Type of Magnet
Size of Magnet
Time of treating the magnet to reach its equilibrate state. 20 minutes when submerged
in water, and 30 minutes when in open air.
Type of ferromagnetic materials used for the attraction
Method
Materials

Thong, to hold the magnets

Thick heat-resistant gloves

Freezer

Ice cubes

Large plastic bowls

Notebook, for recording

Thermometer

Flat surface of plate at least 2-inches wider than the diameter of the magnet

Small bowl to put the ferromagnetic materials

4 Magnets

Digital scale with 0.1 increments.

Pot for hot water. Make sure that the pot does not attract with the magnet

Ferromagnetic materials, paper clips

Stove, for heating water.

Procedures
1. The magnet will be tested in 4 different temperatures.
1. Approximately -20 Celsius (Temperature inside the freezer)
2. 0 Celcius (Temperature of ice cubes inside water)
3. Approximately 20 Celsius (Room temperature)
4. 100 Celsius (Temperature of boiling water)
b. To record the amount of paper clips that attracts the magnet, it is better to
make a table in a notebook.
Freezer (-20
Celsius)
Temp.
(Celsius)
Trial 1 (g)

Ice Water (0
Celsius)

Room Temp. (20

Celcius)

Boiling Water (100

Celsius)

Trial 2 (g)
Trial 3 (g)
Trial 4 (g)
Trial 5 (g)
Average (g)
3. Prepare all the paperclips that will be used for the experiment in one bowl.
Make sure that the amount of paperclip is equal for all the 4 magnets to deal
with.
3. Freezing Test
a. Put the magnet inside the freezer and wait for 30 minutes.
b. Dont forget to place the thermometer inside the freezer to know what
is the temperature.
c. Prepare the bowl that is full of paper clips.
d. Once it is already 30 minutes, gently put the magnet to the bowl of
paperclip and let it attract with all the clips.
e. Before the magnet loses its power, measure how much the attraction is
with the clips and write it in the table that have been made in the
notebook.
f. After the first trial is done, repeat it until there is already 5 trials, to
have a perfect and correct result.
g. Do not forget to get the thermometer out of the freezer to find out its
temperature.
3. Ice Water Bath Test

a. In a plastic bowl, prepare ice cubes that is inside a water. To maintain

the cold temperature, keep on replenishing the ice to change the melted
ice.
b. Place the magnet inside the bowl until the magnet have completely
been submerged.
c. Leave the magnet in the bowl for 20 minutes. Make sure that there is
still ice in the bowl.
d. Get the magnet out, and put it in the bowl of paperclips and measure
how much clips attracts with the magnet.
e. Repeat the steps for several times until 5 trials. Record the data in the
table.
f. Use a thermometer to measure the temperature of the ice water.
3. Room Temperature Test
a. Let the magnet rest in a room temperature and wait for 30 minutes.
b. After 30 minutes, put the magnet in the bowl of paperclips. Measure
how much paperclips that attracts with the magnet
c. Repeat the steps for until 5 trials, and record the findings in the table.
d. Use a thermometer to measure the room temperature.
3. Boiling Water Test
a. Boil a water in a pot and wait until it has totally boil.
b. Use a thong to put the magnet inside the boiling water, and do not turn
off the stove because later on, the water will not be hot again.
c. After 20 minutes, get the magnet out with a thong and put it in the
bowl of paperclip.
d. Measure the amount of clips that attracts with the magnet.

e. Record the data in the table.

f. Repeat the steps until 5 trials, and record the findings.
g. Use a thermometer to measure the room temperature.

Bibliography

"How the Strength of a Magnet Varies with Temperature." How the Strength of a
Magnet Varies with Temperature. Science Buddies, n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
"Magnets and Temperature: Does the Temperature of a Magnet Affect Its Strength?"
Education.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 24 Nov. 2014.
"Superconductivity Experiment." Superconductivity Experiment. N.p., n.d. Web. 24
Nov. 2014.
"What Affects the Strength of a Magnet?" What Affects the Strength of a Magnet?
N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2014.