4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
Name: ___________________________________ Date: ______________
1. Electrical energy is the movement of electric charges through a material.
When charges are moving through a material, such as a wire, they can also
produce _______ energy, which makes the wire feel warm.
A. sound
B. light
C. heat
D. color
2. Which of the following could best be classified as an insulator?
A. metal cup
B. coin
C. wire screen
D. basketball
3. What will happen to the two objects in the picture below as they are slowly
moved toward each other?
A. The objects will push away from each other.
B. The objects will both move in the same direction.
C. The objects will not affect each other.
D. The objects will be pulled toward each other.
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
4. Car headlights are electrical receivers. A car is traveling in the middle of
the night and it is very dark. Light from the headlights of the car ________.
A. travels in a circle.
B. travels in a curved line.
C. travels only to objects that are shiny.
D. travels in a straight line.
5. In 1820, a physicist named Hans Christian Oersted discovered that the
points of a compass moved when he turned on a nearby electric circuit.
What did Oersted's discovery show?
A. The Earth's North Pole moves when an electric circuit is turned on.
B. Electricity flowing through a circuit creates a magnetic field around the wires.
C. Heat produced by an electric circuit can cause the points of a compass to move.
D. It is important not to bump any equipment when performing a scientific experiment.
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
6. Kayla built four electromagnets. The bolts are the same size in each
electromagnet. Which electromagnet has the strongest magnetic field?
A. electromagnet 4
B. electromagnet 3
C. electromagnet 1
D. electromagnet 2
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
7. What will happen to the two objects in the picture as they are slowly
moved toward each other?
A. The objects will push away from each other.
B. The objects will not affect each other.
C. The objects will be pulled toward each other.
D. The objects will both move in the same direction.
8. How does a switch change a circuit?
A. The switch stops and starts the flow of electricity.
B. The switch keeps the wires from getting hot.
C. The switch makes the battery stronger.
D. An open switch completes the circuit.
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
9. Which best describes this picture?
A. a short circuit
B. two bulbs in a series
C. two bulbs in parallel
D. an incomplete circuit
10. Cassie has a magnet that she holds over an iron nail. The nail moves
toward the magnet before the magnet touches it. Which of the following is
true about magnetism?
A. Magnetism is not a force, and therefore it cannot move an object.
B. Magnetism is a force that acts at a distance and cannot be seen.
C. Magnetism is a force that must directly touch an object in order to move it.
D. Magnetism is a force that can be seen in the air as it moves an object.
11. Which type of energy needs a circuit to flow through?
A. electrical energy
B. sound energy
C. heat energy
D. light energy
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
12. Betty is using the microwave to cook her lunch. She knows that the
microwave changes electrical energy into heat energy to cook food.
What evidence does Betty have that the microwave changes electrical
energy into heat energy?
A. Her lunch tastes bad.
B. Her lunch gets hot.
C. Her lunch becomes colder.
D. Her lunch changes color.
13. Which best describes this picture?
A. two bulbs in parallel
B. two bulbs in a series
C. an incomplete circuit
D. a short circuit
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
14. The picture below shows small bits of iron metal, called filings, arranged
in a pattern around a larger object. What form of energy moved the iron
filings to make the pattern shown in the picture?
A. electrical energy
B. light energy
C. potential energy
D. magnetic energy
15. Mr. Green gave his students a set of items.
They had a toothpick, pencil, paper clip, safety pin, nail, and dime. He also
gave them a magnet. He told them to predict which items are magnetic.
How can they test their predictions?
A. See which items stick to the pencil.
B. Weigh each of the items.
C. Measure each of the items.
D. See which items stick to the magnet.
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
16. Which of these acts like a magnet?
A. Atlantic Ocean
B. Blue Ridge Mountains
C. NC Emerald mine
D. Planet Earth
17. Look at the picture of the two magnets above. If the magnets were hung
next to each other, which arrow shows the direction that the magnet on the
left would move?
A. arrow X
B. arrow Y
C. arrow W
D. arrow Z
18. Mark is using an electromagnet to pick up metal washers. The washers
fell off. Why?
A. The washers need to be turned over.
B. The flow of electricity stopped.
C. The wire can only be used one time.
D. The wire became too hot.
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
19. What property of light is shown in this picture?
A. Light travels in a straight line.
B. Light cannot travel through the air.
C. Light always travels through solids.
D. Light bends around objects as it travels.
20. Which best describes why electrical wires are made of metal?
A. Metal wires are safe to use.
B. Metal wires attach easily to a battery.
C. Metal bends easily in a circle.
D. Electricity moves well through metal.
21. Magnets have ______ that repel and attract each other.
A. isotopes
B. poles
C. protons
D. keys
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
22. Which of the following could best be classified as a conductor?
A. cotton yarn
B. plastic comb
C. metal spoon
D. balloon
23. This large magnet is being placed near a group of empty cans. What will
happen when the magnet gets very close to the cans?
A. The labels will fall off the cans.
B. The magnetic cans will move toward the magnet.
C. The non-magnetic cans will move toward the magnet.
D. The cans will become full again.
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
Use the following diagram to answer questions 24, 25, and 26.
24. Which provides evidence that magnetic force goes through cardboard?
A. Horseshoe magnets are very strong.
B. The nail is stuck to the cardboard.
C. The paperclip is stuck to the nail.
D. Two poles are touching the cardboard.
25. What might happen when the cardboard and nail are moved closer to the
paperclip?
A. The cardboard will fall off.
B. The paperclip will stick to the nail.
C. The nail will fall off.
D. The paperclip will be pushed away.
26. Look at the drawing. Which is the temporary magnet in this system?
A. Cardboard
B. Nail
C. Horseshoe magnet
D. Paperclip
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
27. Look at the picture below.
Where would you look to find evidence of energy transfer?
A. the fans at position X
B. the battery at position Z
C. the wires at position Y
D. all of these
28. Energy is changed from one form to another during an energy
transformation. Which of the following is an example of a transformation of
electrical energy into another kind of energy?
A. all of these examples
B. a motor making noise
C. a heater feeling warm
D. a light bulb lighting up
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4th Grade Magnetism and Electricity Assessment
29. Look at the circuit in the picture below.
Would you expect the bulb to light?
A. Yes, but only if another battery is added.
B. No, because the key is an insulator.
C. Yes, because the circuit is complete.
D. No, because both wires must touch the battery.
30. Light and heat are two forms of ___.
A. matter
B. solids
C. motion
D. energy
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