Lesson 5 of 5 · Magnets

Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark Lab

Magnetic Force Works at a Distance

🧪Lab Brief #5

Magnetic Force Works at a Distance.

🎯 Your mission

Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.

⚡ The twist

Speed isn't the same as force. Don't mix them up.

🤯

Mind = Blown

⚡ Static electricity is the same physics as lightning, just smaller.

🔮

Make a hypothesis first

Guess: where does the energy go?

What You'll Learn

A magnet pulls on iron without touching it, and the pull gets rapidly weaker as the gap grows. It also works straight through paper, plastic and wood, because those materials do not block a magnetic field.

Key Words

Tap a word to see its definition.

Materials Needed

bar magnet
paper clips
ruler
card
book

Safety First

Keep magnets away from phones and bank cards.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.

Step 2 — Do

Find the greatest distance at which a magnet still moves a paper clip, then repeat with card, then a book between them. Record all three distances and explain the pattern.

Step 3 — Observe

Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.

Step 4 — Record

Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 2

Magnetism is described as a non-contact force because it:

How sure are you going to be?😐 maybe

🌍

Where you see this in real life

You use this every time you flip a light switch, ride a bike, or kick a ball.

🏆

Stretch Challenge

Try this in real life this week.

Time how long a small ball rolls down something, then change the slope and try again.

👨‍👩‍👧

For the dinner table

“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”

🎯

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