Name:
1. Which of these items can a magnet attract? (You may choose more than one)
A.
B.
C.
D.
Steel bolt
Wooden block
Another magnet
Piece of paper
2. Which of these items can a magnet repel?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Metal key
Another magnet
Plastic bag
Glass bowl
3. Look at each of the items in the list below. Decide whether or not you think it
can be attracted by a magnet. Put an X in the box to show what you decided.
Can be attracted by
a magnet
Item
Aluminum Can
Rubber band
Iron Nail
Plastic spoon
Copper Penny
Can NOT be
attracted by a
magnet
4. Joan has three identical looking bars, shown below. She observes that:




A attracts B
A attracts C
B and C do not interact
None of the bars repel each other
A
B
C
What can she conclude based on her observations?
A. Only A is a magnet
B. A and B are magnets
C. B and C are magnets
D. All three bars are magnets
E. None of the bars are magnets
5. James finds a mysterious object. He thinks that it may be a
magnet. He conducts an investigation to find out.
He brings the object near a magnet and observes that it attracts.
What conclusion can James make about the object based on this
observation?
A. The object is a magnet
B. The object is not a magnet
C. Nothing, he needs to do more to find out what it is
Explain why you chose your answer:
6. The picture above shows Maria pushing Magnet 1 across a smooth table
towards Magnet 2.
a) What will happen to Magnet 2?
b) Why will this happen?
Magnet 3
7. The picture above shows Maria sliding her magnet toward another magnet. She
observes Magnet 3 is attracted to her magnet.
a) Based on her observation, label the North and South poles of Magnet 3 in the
picture with ‘S’ or ‘N’.
b) Explain why you labeled the magnet this way:
8. If Maria puts something between the two magnets, would they still attract?
Magnet 3
a)
Yes
No
b)
Explain your thinking.
9. Two students are comparing the strength of three magnets. Each ‘X’ in the
table below shows how many paperclips each magnet could pick up.
Magnet
A
B
C
# of paperclips
XXXX
XXXXXX
XXX
Which magnet is the strongest?
How can you tell?
Magnet A
Magnet B
A
B
C
Magnet C
10. A student wants to know if Magnet A is stronger than Magnet B. The student
also has small and large washers.
Magnet A
Magnet B
washers
What is the best way for the student to find out which magnet is stronger?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Use all the washers and count how many each magnet can attract
Measure the amount of time each magnet can hold one large washer
Use one size of washers and count the number each magnet can attract
Measure the amount of time each magnet can hold one small washer
Explain why you think this way is best:
11. A student wants to find out which magnet is stronger. She has the two
magnets, shown below, and a box of paperclips.
Magnet A
Magnet B
Paperclips
The student finds that Magnet A can pick up 10 paperclips. What should the
student do next to find out if Magnet B is stronger?
How will the student know by doing this whether Magnet B is stronger?
12. A student tests several types of magnets. Which observation could best help
her compare the strengths of different magnets?
A. the shape of the magnets
B. the weight of the magnets
C. the materials attracted by the magnets
D. the distances objects are from the magnets when attracted
13. Choose one of the problems below and explain how you could use a magnet
to solve it.
A.
B.
C.
D.
Reaching an object on a tall shelf
Keeping food warm
Holding a door closed
Stopping a leak
14. An inventor plans to design a machine that will sort metal and nonmetal
objects for recycling. Do you think this invention would work? Explain your
thinking.
15. Think of a new problem that you could solve using a magnet:
Explain how a magnet could be used to solve the problem.
16. If you cut a bar magnet in half, each half will:
a) no longer attract objects
b) attract from both ends.
c) attract objects only at one end.
d) have two north poles or two south poles.
17. If you were to stack a group of magnets together, the stack will:
a) have many north and south poles.
b) no longer act like a magnet.
c) act like one large magnet.
e) only repel other magnets.
18. Certain materials behave like magnets because:
a) they are made of metal, rather than nonmetal.
b) the atoms that make them up are magnetic.
c) they have positive and negative charges.
d) they came from the north and south poles.
19. A student compares the strength of two magnets and finds that
one is stronger than the other.
What is the best explanation for the difference in their strength?
a) the magnets are different shapes.
b) one magnet is older than the other.
c) one magnet is bigger than the other.
d) none of the above
20. Betty has two magnets (A and B) and two identical metal pins. She slides
Magnet A along a table until the pin is attracted to the magnet. She does the
same with Magnet B.
A
B
She finds that Magnet A attracts the pin from 15cm and Magnet B attracts the pin
from 10cm. Steven says both magnets are equally strong. Do you agree?
A. Yes
B. No
Explain your answer: