Justine Aranki & Melissa Nascimento bring you…… “May The Force Be With You ” MST Unit, Spring 2009,

 What is a Magnet?  What is a Magnetic Field?

 A Magnet is an object that attracts many other objects. It consists of a North Pole and a South Pole, and atoms which create a Magnetic Field.  Every Magnet has a North pole and a South pole. These two poles are attracted to each other and never to it’s “own” pole.  A Magnetic Field is the invisible force around a magnet…. (No matter HOW close you look with your bare eye, you can’t see it!)

 They way a Magnetic Field works is a bunch of electrons (electric current waves) travel outward through the North pole of a Magnet and enter back through the South pole…  …This traveling motion of electrons causes Magnetism, the “attraction or repulsion” or a “push or pull” between objects. This is how objects get “stuck” with such strong force.  This force is so strong that it can even travel through water!

What I KNOW..What I WANT to know..What I LEARNED.. *Objects stick to magnets.*How do Magnets stick to things?*Magnets have a North Pole and a South Pole. *Magnets are on my refrigerator.*What do magnets stick to?*North and South Poles only attract to each other and NOT to Poles of the same “kind”. *How do objects magically float to Magnets? *Magnets have a Invisible Magnetic Field. *A Magnetic Field is the force that pushes and pulls objects to Magnets. *Magnetism is what occurs when objects are stuck to magnets. *Magnets have electrons. *Magnetism can go through water.

 Why do some objects stick to Magnets and others don’t?  Let’s Analyze it!

 Some objects stick to Magnets because they are made of materials that attract a Magnet. ….In order for an object to be magnetic, there Must be moving electrons…  Electrons travel in pairs that spin in opposite directions… HOWEVER, some materials have unpaired Electrons. Unpaired electrons move freely through some metals spinning in the same direction.  The Unpaired Electrons spinning in the same direction cause Metals to become attracted to Magnets.

Object Attracts to Magnet Repelled by Magnet Student Predictions 1. Paper clips x Yes 2.CoinsxYes 3.Cotton ballsxNo 4.Pen capsxNo 5.StringxNo 6.Aluminin foilxYes 7. Metal RodsxYes 8. Paper CupxNo 9. Bobby PinxNo 10. CD’sxYes 11. Wood chipsxNo 12. Glass MarblesxNo 13. ThumbtacksxYes 14. ScrewsxYes

 Magnetic Fields are Invisible to our eyes, how do we know where the lines are?

Magnetic field lines dance around a magnet! This can be thought of as a way to visualize the Magnetic field… The closer field lines are, the stronger the Force of attraction!  One way we can see the field lines are with Iron fillings…  Another way we can see it is moving around a small compass on a Magnetic field…

 Lets Investigate the Strength of Magnets!  How do we know how STRONG it is?

 Magnets do NOT have Muscles, but they surely are strong..  …The closer the field lines are to each other, the STRONGER the Magnet! … …..the further away, the weaker the Magnet!

The Scavenger Hunt Go on a quest for the following 10 Questions: 1) Will 2 magnets facing each other’s “like poles” attach together? 2) How deep is a black hole? 3) Is the earth a Magnet? Describe how so. 4) What causes the attraction or repulsion of an object? 5) Name a few items that are repelled by Magnets. 6) Would Nails and screws be attracted to Magnets? Why? 7) Name the poles on a Magnet. 8) What three metals can be magnetized? 9) Of the nine planets and one star in our solar system, which ones have magnetic fields? 10) What does a Magnetic Field look like?

Use The following Websites for the Scavenger Hunt:  Earth and Magnetism Earth and Magnetism  Magnetic Fields- “How Invisible is it?” Magnetic Fields- “How Invisible is it?”  Earth’s Magnetic Field- “Is this possible?” Earth’s Magnetic Field- “Is this possible?”  “Black Holes… Oh My!” “Black Holes… Oh My!”  “Magnets”..FUN Game for Answers “Magnets”..FUN Game for Answers  Q&A on Magnets.. Reading Preparation Q&A on Magnets.. Reading Preparation

Let’s Explore more on FILAMENTALITY Website: FILAMENTALITY  Practice and learn more with Games/ Videos/ Experiments/ Museums/ Art  SUPER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE QUIZ: SUPER ULTIMATE CHALLENGE QUIZ Lets Take a fun (promise!) 10 Question Quiz on Magnetism and see how much you’ve learned! CLICK BELOW