Magnetism Lab
Name __________________
Date _________
Problem: Is the force of magnetism strong enough to travel through glass, cardboard and/or
plastic?
Hypothesis:
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Materials: water, magnet, paper-clip, glass jar, plastic ruler & piece of cardboard
Procedure:
1. Draw a maze on a piece of cardboard. Can you guide a paper-clip through the maze?
Place the paperclip on the top of your cardboard with the maze facing up. Place the magnet under
your cardboard where the paperclip is resting on top. Now move your magnet around and see what
happens.
2. Can you rescue a paper-clip from a glass of water without getting wet?
Fill you glass with water and drop the paper-clip inside the glass. Take the magnet and place it on
the outside of the glass close to the magnet and see if you can pull the paper-clip to the side of
the glass and up to the top (without getting wet).
3. Will the paper-clip climb the ruler? (You can use a plastic ruler).
Hold your ruler so that one end is resting on a flat surface and hold the other end up at a angle.
Place the magnet on the under side of the ruler (the end that it resting on the flat surface) and
then place the paperclip on the top of the ruler (again, the end of the ruler that is resting on the
flat surface). Move the magnet to go up to the top end of the ruler.
Observe & Record:
Material
Did the force travel through?
Conclusion: Restate your hypothesis. Explain if you hypothesis was accurate or not.
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Complete each question in a complete sentence.
1.) What materials was the force of magnetism able to travel through?
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2.) If you changed the size of the magnet, would it affect the results? Explain.
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3.) What other types of materials do you think the force of magnetism can travel through?
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