Magnets: Attract and Repel

What You'll Learn

Magnets have north and south poles. Opposite poles attract and like poles repel. The magnetic field is strongest at the poles and gets weaker with distance.

Key Words

force
Newton

Materials Needed

cardboard
marbles
paper clips
rubber bands
blocks

Safety First

Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.
Adult supervision recommended.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read and learn: Magnets have north and south poles. Opposite poles attract and like poles repel. The magnetic field is strongest at the poles and gets weaker with distance.

Step 2 — Do

Build your model using the materials provided.

Step 3 — Observe

Look for patterns in your observations.

Step 4 — Record

Make a graph or chart showing your results.

Check Your Understanding

Question 1

1 of 3

What happens when like magnetic poles are brought together?