Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 2, Unit J:
Magnets and
electromagnets
Lesson J1: Magnetic fields
Main activities
J1a What do magnets do?
For each group:
 2 bar magnets
 small pieces of iron, nickel, copper and aluminium
 a compass
J1b Magnetic forces
For each group:
Core, Help:
 selection of magnets labelled A, B, C and D
(A and B should both be ‘strong’ magnets; C and D should be weaker than A and B.)
Extension:
 four similar rods, labelled W, X, Y and Z, made of iron, brass, wood and a magnet
 bar magnet
Plenary activities
Looking ahead
 two bar magnets
 OHP
 iron filings
 acetate sheet (to prevent iron filings touching the magnets)
Lesson J2: Magnets
Starter activities
Capture interest (2)
 magnet, clamp stand (to hold magnet vertically)
 thread
 blu tack
 paper clip
 various materials to test, e.g. iron, paper, aluminium, glass
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
1
Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 2, Unit J:
Magnets and
electromagnets
Main activities
J2a Plotting magnetic fields
For each group:
 bar magnet (two for each Extension group)
 plotting compass
 A4 sheet of plain paper
 sharp, soft pencil
J2b Using a compass to navigate
For each group:
 map showing location of buried treasure and planned route
 chalk, tape or small object to indicate the starting point
 orienteering compass
 trundle wheel or measuring tape
 stick (or similar) with group name to mark position of treasure
Lesson J3: Making magnets
Starter activities
Capture interest (1)
 test-tube two-thirds full of iron filings fitted with a tight stopper
 strong bar magnet
 small nails or pins to test that a magnet has been made
Main activities
J3a Making magnets
For each group:
 steel strip
 bar magnet (possibly different strengths for different groups)
 paper clips
 access to a demagnetising coil carrying alternating current
Help:
 test-tube of iron filings with a tight-fitting bung (pupils do not remove the bung)
 strong bar magnet
 plotting compass (to test for magnetism)
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
2
Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 2, Unit J:
Magnets and
electromagnets
J3b Making a compass
For each group:
 bar magnet
 blunt needle or straightened paper clip
 length of thread
 filter paper
 trough of water (large enough to float a needle or straightened paper clip)
 compass
Plenary activities
Looking ahead
 long iron nail (or similar)
 length of insulated wire wound around nail with turns touching and covering most of its
length and with a minimum of 10 cm free at either end, two crocodile clips (to attach to ends
of insulated wire), two connecting leads, low-voltage high-current power supply (e.g.
Westminster type), small pins, paper clips or nails (to show that the nail is magnetised)
Lesson J4: Electromagnets
Main activities
J4a Making an electromagnet
Core:
 about 1 metre of plastic coated wire stripped at both ends
 two crocodile clips
 wooden cylinder (to form a coil of wire)
 low-voltage dc power supply
 two connecting leads
 heat-resistant mat
 plotting compass
 blu tack
 A4 sheet of plain paper
Extension:
 about 1 metre of plastic coated wire stripped at both ends
 two crocodile clips
 low-voltage dc power supply
 two connecting leads
 clamp stand, or similar, to support wire in a vertical position
 plotting compass
 piece of card (about 15 cm square) with central hole
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
3
Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 2, Unit J:
Magnets and
electromagnets
J4b Adding a core to an electromagnet
For each group:
 about 1 metre of plastic coated wire stripped at both ends
 two crocodile clips
 wooden cylinder (to form a coil of wire)
 low-voltage dc power supply
 two connecting leads
 heat-resistant mat
 rods of various materials, as decided by the teacher
 paper clips or iron nails (to test the strength of the electromagnet)
 access to a demagnetising coil carrying alternating current
Lesson J5: Variables
Starter activities
Bridging to the unit
 iron cylindrical core
 low-voltage, high-current power supply and variable resistor or variable power supply
 two crocodile clips
 very tiny magnetic objects, e.g. a few iron filings or tiny steel washers
 a large magnetic object, e.g. large iron weight or large toy car
Lesson J5 Investigate: How to make an electromagnet stronger
Main activities
J5 Investigate: How to make an electromagnet stronger
Core:
 about 1 metre of plastic coated wire stripped at both ends
 two crocodile clips
 wooden cylinder (to form a coil of wire)
 variable power supply
 ammeter
 connecting leads
 heat-resistant mat
 iron rod
 paper clips or iron nails (to test the strength of the electromagnet)
 access to a demagnetising coil carrying alternating current
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
4
Technicians’ lists of equipment
Downloaded from www.catalystscience.co.uk
Catalyst 2, Unit J:
Magnets and
electromagnets
Help:








about 1 metre of plastic coated wire stripped at both ends
connecting leads
heat-resistant mat
two crocodile clips
iron rod
wooden cylinder (to form a coil of wire)
paper clips or iron nails (to test the strength of the electromagnet)
low-voltage dc power supply
This list is in Microsoft Word, so it can be customised to fit each school’s requirements.
5