Section Quiz
Magnets and Magnetism
Name _______
Class_______
Part 1: Write the letter of the correct answer in the space provided.
______ 1. Two poles, magnetic forces, and magnetic fields are magnets’
a. auroras.
b. alignments.
c. domains.
d. Properties.
______ 2. When is an object magnetic?
a. when it only has a north pole
b. when it only has a south pole
c. when it is free to rotate
d. when it attracts iron
______ 3. Which of the following are two kinds of magnets?
a. magnetic fields, magnetic poles
b. ferromagnets, electromagnets
c. magnesia magnets, magnetite magnets
d. atoms, domains
______ 4. Which of the following are two effects of Earth’s magnetic field?
a. compass points to geographic north, auroras seen at the equator
b. compass points to geographic south, auroras seen at the equator
c. compass points to magnetic north, auroras seen at both poles
d. compass points to geographic north, auroras seen at both poles
Part 2: Match the correct definition with the correct term. Write the letter in the space
provided.
a. Magnet
b. magnetic pole
c. magnetic force
______ 5. one of two points, such as the ends of magnets, that have opposing magnetic
qualities.
______ 6. any material that attracts iron or materials containing iron.
______ 7. attraction or repulsion generated by moving or spinning electric charges.
Part 3: CRITICAL THINKING
8. Forming Hypotheses Why are auroras more commonly seen in places such as
Alaska and Australia than in places such as Florida and Mexico?
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9. Applying Concepts Explain how you could use magnets to make a small
object appear to float in air.
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10. Making Inferences: Earth’s moon has no atmosphere and has a cool, solid
core. Would you expect to see auroras on the moon? Explain your answer.
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11. Why are some iron objects magnetic and others not magnetic?
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Part 4: INTERPRETING GRAPHICS
The image below shows a model of Earth as a large magnet. Use the image below
to answer the questions that follow.
12. Which magnetic pole is closest to the geographic North Pole?
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13. Is the magnetic field of Earth stronger near the middle of Earth (in Mexico) or
at the bottom of Earth (in Antarctica)? Explain your answer.
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Answer key:
1. D
2. D
3. B
4. D
5. B
6. A
7. C
8. Auroras are most commonly seen near Earth’s magnetic poles. Because Alaska and Australia are
close to the Earth’s magnetic poles, people living in those places are more likely to see auroras than
are people living in Florida and Mexico, which are far away from the Earth’s magnetic poles.
9. Attach strong magnets to a small object so that the north poles of the magnets point downward.
Place strong magnets on a table so that the north poles point upward. When the object is placed
above the magnets on the table, the magnetic force between the magnets will push the object up
and make it appear to float in air.
10. I would not expect to see auroras on the moon. Because it has a cool, solid core, the moon
would not have a strong magnetic field to guide charged particles from the sun. Because it has no
atmosphere, the moon has no gas atoms for the charged particles to hit.
11. Iron objects are magnetic if most of their domains are aligned. If the domains are randomly
arranged, the objects aren’t magnetic.
12. a magnetic south pole
13. The magnetic field is stronger at the bottom of Earth (in Antarctica) than it is in the middle of
Earth (in Mexico) because a magnetic pole is located in Antarctica, so the magnetic field lines are
closer together at the bottom of Earth than they are in the middle of Earth.