Magic Magnets
Grade Level: 3
Strand: Matter and Materials
Topic: Magnetic and charged materials
Overall Expectation
• Demonstrate an understanding of the properties of materials that can be magnetized or charged
and of how materials are affected by magnets or static electric charges
Specific Expectations
• Classify, using their observations, materials that are magnetic and not magnetic, and identify
materials that can be magnetized (e.g., iron, nickel);
• Compare different materials by measuring their magnetic strength(e.g. number of staples that
can be picked up)
Required Materials
• Strong permanent magnet
• Iron nail
• Staples; Small paperclips
Procedure
• Show students that a magnet can pick up a paper clip
• Show students that a magnet can pick up nail, and that with nail still attached to magnet, the nail
can pick up a paper clip.
• Remove the magnet from the nail and show students that the paper clip will fall off.
• Pick up un-magnetized nail and show that it cannot attract paperclip.
• Take a permanent magnet and rub iron nail with one pole of permanent magnet in one direction.
• Use nail to attract paperclip.
Scientific Principle
A magnet is an object made of a material which creates a magnetic field. A magnetic field is created
by the moving and spinning of electrically charged particles within the material. These moving
particles create two poles within the magnet (north and south). Same poles repel and opposite poles
attract.
By stroking a permanent magnet onto a metal object many times, it becomes temporarily magnetized.
This happens when large clusters of atoms in a metal object line up their magnets in the same direction.
The clusters of aligned atoms are called Magnetic Domains. Each domain is made up of millions of
aligned atoms and each atom is essentially a small magnet, so when you put them all together a bigger
magnet can be made.
Iron Nail
Magnetized Iron Nail
Add a Magnet
Only a few substances have atoms in which the magnets line up their forces. When some metals are
put in a magnetic field all of its atoms line up which is how the iron nail became a temporary magnet.
Objects, like the iron nail, that become temporarily magnetized are made of ferromagnetic material.
Some ferromagnetic materials can hold their atom alignment for longer periods of time. Therefore the
nail is able stay magnetized after it has been taken out of the magnet field.
Opportunities and Other Considerations
• Explain safe use of magnets to students and make sure they keep them away from computers
• If students are to do exercise with nail, ensure the pointy end of the nail has been smoothed.
Glossary (www.dictionary.com)
Atom - the smallest component of an element having the chemical properties of the element.
Ferromagnetism – phenomenon exhibited by materials such as iron, which becomes magnetized in a
magnetic field and retain their magnetism when the field is removed.
Magnetic Field - A condition found in the region around a magnet or an electric current, characterized
by the existence of a detectable magnetic force at every point in the region and by the existence of
magnetic poles.
Magnet – a material that produces a magnetic field and possesses the property of attracting certain
substances (such as iron).
References
http://www.coolmagnetman.com/magreview.htm
http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/magnetism.htm
http://www.madsci.org/posts/archives/oct2000/970717327.Es.r.html
http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/8423/domain.htm
Presenters
Lisa Daniel
Kimberly Stubbs