Physical Science

Magnetism

Name:__________________________
Period:_____

Exploring Magnetism
Magnetic field
INTRODUCTION:
Describe any experiences you have had with magnetism.
Positive and negative end
And a north and south end

How would you define magnetism and what do you think causes it?

a physical phenomenon produced by the motion of electric charge, resulting in attractive and
repulsive forces between objects.

Do you think the Earth is magnetic? How do you know if it is or not?

Yes there is a north and south pole

What is a magnetic compass and what does it do?

A device for showing what is north and south

What are some uses of magnets in everyday life? (In addition to hanging your awesome report card on the
refrigerator )

Motors
EXPLORE:
1. Experiment using the materials provided and other objects around the classroom
(HINT: Try to get the magnets to attract or repel each other and attract or repel the other objects).
a. What do you notice about the interaction of the bar magnets you were
given?
There are north and south poles
b. List the materials that interact with the magnets AND explain how
they interact.
metal

c. List the materials that do not interact with the magnets.

Rubber cotton non metals
d. What do all the materials that interact with the magnets have in
common?

Physical Science
Magnetism

Name:__________________________
Period:_____

They are all metals

2.

Obtain a magnetic compass from your teacher. Hold the compass so that the disc of the
compass is horizontal and the N-S markings are facing up. Align the line marked N (for North) on the
glass/plastic top with the arrow inside the compass. How might compasses be used in the wilderness?

Experiment with bringing the compass near the bar magnets. First try it with
one magnet. Next, try placing your magnets in random configurations and
observe what happens.
a. What happens when you bring a compass near a magnet?
The red eedle is atracted to the south pole of the compas
3.

b. Does it depend on where you place the compass? Explain.

Yes

4.

Arrange your compasses around one of the bar magnets as shown in Figure 1
below.

Based on your observations, EXPLAIN how compasses work.

A mgnet that is atracted to the earths pull
5.

Obtain a large piece of white paper from your teacher.. You will now trace the magnetic force field
shape around the bar magnet. Before beginning. . .
a. Draw what you hypothesize the magnetic field will look like around a single bar magnet.
Include arrows that point in the direction the compass points north.(Click edit to add lines)

b. To make your tracings of the magnetic force field, do the

following on your white paper:

Physical Science
Magnetism

Name:__________________________
Period:_____

1) Draw a dot somewhere near the magnet and place the center of
a compass over the dot.
2) Draw a dot at the location of the arrow head (or tail) of the
compass needle.
3) Move the compass center to this new dot, and again draw a dot
at the location of the compass needle head (or tail).
4) Remove the compass from the paper and draw lines connecting
the dots with arrows indicating the direction that the compass points.
5) Continue steps 2-5 until the line meets the magnet or the edge of the paper.
6) Pick another spot near the magnet and repeat the process (steps 1-5).
7) Continue until you have at least 5 lines surrounding the magnet.

c. Draw how your magnetic force field looks from your measurements
with the compass. (Click edit to add lines)

Describe the lines of the magnetic field. Where does the attraction seem the
strongest.
6.

7.

Now place two magnets side-by-side as shown below in #8. Hypothesize what
the magnetic field will look like around two bar magnets in a configuration of
your choice.

8.

Follow the same magnetic field tracing procedures again for your new
configuration. Draw how it looks from your measurements with the compass:

Physical Science
Magnetism

Name:__________________________
Period:_____