Part 2:  Magnetism

Objectives
After participating in the program Electricity and Magnetism, Part 2, students will be able to:

· recognize that some materials exhibit magnetism and others do not
· restate that magnetic objects have a north pole and a south pole
· explain that like poles repel each other while opposite poles attract each other
· describe magnetism as a force with force lines extending from an object into   space
· recognize that most magnetic objects contain iron (some other less common   elements are also magnetic)
· demonstrate that iron-containing objects can be magnetized
· explain how induced magnetism can be destroyed
· restate that magnetic field lines can pass unaffected through some materials and   are gathered in by others


Relevant Vocabulary
*permanent magnet a magnet, usually of hard steel, which keeps most of its magnetism after it has once been magnetized
*repulsion the mutual action by which bodies or particles of matter tend to push each other apart
*attraction the mutual action by which bodies or particles of matter tend to draw together
*magnetic force the attracting or repelling force between a magnet and a magnetic object
*magnetic field lines imaginary lines in a region of space in which there is an appreciable magnetic force
*magnetic poles either pole of a magnet, where the magnetic lines of force seem to be concentrated
*north pole that end of a straight magnet that points north when the magnet hangs free
*south pole that end of a straight magnet that points south when the magnet hangs free
*magnetic domain microscopic regions in an object in which magnetic dipoles (north and south poles) tend to align parallel to each other
*temporary magnet an object whose magnetism is not permanent
*permeable a material which interacts with a magnetic force passing into it
*nonpermeable a material which does not interact with a magnetic force passing into and through it


Materials Needed
(For each group)
        · bag of materials to test for magnetism
                - paper
                - plastic
                - paper clip
                - aluminum
                - aluminum foil
                - marble
                - mylar
                - glass
                - steel button
                - wood
                - nail containing
                - silicon chunk
                - penny
        · small baggie with paper clips
        · string (sewing thread) about 12” long
        · permeability tester (cardboard and straws)
        · suspension system (two wood end pieces and dowel, tape)
(For each student)
        · permanent magnet
        · iron filings in sealed bags
 


Total  Activity Time: 1 Hour 25 Minutes

 

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Disclaimer: Some of the procedures for the activities contained in the lessons have been adapted from various resources listed throughout the module.


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This work was supported by the Center on Polymer Interfaces and Macromolecular Assemblies (CPIMA)
as part of the NSF Materials Science and Engineering Center program under Grant DMR 9808677

Copyright 1996 - 2003, Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.