Exploring Magnetism

Exploring magnetism

Overview:

Students will learn about magnetic materials and basic concept about magnetism, like north/south pole and magnetic field. They will also explore electromagnetic effect.

Essential Question.

How can magnets exert a force without touching.

Background:

Magnetic materials play an important role in modern daily life, it can be as simply as a refrigerator magnet and can be as complex as the magnetism-based memoirist in computers. Knowing magnetism is essential in understanding the science in our life.

Permanent magnets, such as a refrigerator magnet, bar magnet and horseshoe magnet, are ferromagnetic material. Permanent magnets always have two sides with different polarity, we usually call them ’South Pole’ and ‘North Pole’. Poles with different polarity will attract each other, poles with same polarity will push each other away. The force between the two poles of magnet is usually described with an abstract physics concept – magnetic field. In this lesson, we will use magnetic powders to visualize this abstract concept.

Earth itself is a huge magnet with magnetic south pole locate near geographical north pole, and magnetic north pole locate near geographical south pole. Compass, which is a small permanent magnet, is used in navigation to determine north and south. It is a very good tool to probe weak magnetic field. In this lesson, we will use compass to see the magnetic field around a bar magnet. Earth's magnetic fields

Electricity is closely related to magnetism. Electromagnets are very important in modern industries. The strength of an electromagnets can be controlled by electric current that flow through it. In this lesson, we will make electromagnets by winding coils on a small screws and then pass current.

Research Connection:

MEM-C researchers are using the strange properties of nanomaterials to create magnetic materials that change their magnetism depending on thickness.

NGSS Standards:

Standard Number	Standard text
MS-PS2-3	Ask questions about data to determine the factors that affect the strength of electric and magnetic forces. [Clarification Statement: Examples of devices that use electric and magnetic forces could include electromagnets, electric motors, or generators. Examples of data could include the effect of the number of turns of wire on the strength of an electromagnet, or the effect of increasing the number or strength of magnets on the speed of an electric motor.]
3-PS2-3	Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other. [examples of a magnetic force could include the force between two permanent magnets, the force between an electromagnet and steel paperclips, and the force exerted by one magnet versus the force exerted by two magnets. Examples of cause and effect relationships could include how the distance between objects affects strength of the force and how the orientation of magnets affects the direction of the magnetic force.]

Materials:

Learn about Permanent magnets

Bar magnets
Small boxes with magnetic powder
Compass

Learn about electromagnets

Batteries
Copper Coils
Screws
Paper clips

Procedure:

Learn about permanent magnets iron filings around magnet

1. Introduce a bar magnet, ask students to explore how two bar magnet interact with each other, when put same poles together and when put different poles together.

2. Ask students to explore how bar magnet interact with other materials, like wood, metal. Introduce the concept that some materials can be easily magnetized.

3. Ask students to put bar magnet under magnetic powder, to visualize the magnetic field.

4. Ask students to identify north and south with compass, then put bar magnet around to see the change. Explain the compass’s direction always points to the magnetic south pole. sheet of small compasses near magnet

Learn about electromagnets

1. Help students build a electromagnet. First winding copper coil around the screw, then pass current use a battery, try to pick up paper clip with the magnetized screw. wire wrapped around a screw