Lesson 6 of 6 · Magnetism
Experiment⭐ 30 XP⚡ Spark LabEarth's Magnetic Field
Magnetism.
🎯 Your mission
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
⚡ The twist
The opposite of what you expect is often what happens.
Mind = Blown
🎢 You feel weightless on a roller coaster because you and the seat are falling at the same speed.
Make a hypothesis first
Predict: what happens if you double the force?
What You'll Learn
Earth behaves like a huge bar magnet, generated by convection in its liquid iron outer core. A compass needle aligns with this field, though magnetic north drifts and is not the geographic pole. The field also deflects charged particles from the Sun, producing auroras.
Key Words
Tap a word to see its definition.
Materials Needed
- magnetic compass
- local map
- protractor
Safety First
- Do this outdoors with an adult if you leave the school or garden.
Steps
Read the explanation above and note the two key terms before you start.
Compare a compass bearing to north with the true bearing taken from a map at your location and calculate the declination. Then record whether the compass reading changes near a radiator, a phone and a steel door frame.
Record what actually happened, including anything that did not match what you expected.
Write a conclusion that answers the question this lesson opened with, and state your uncertainty.
Check Your Understanding
Question 1
1 of 2Earth's magnetic field is generated by:
Where you see this in real life
This is why airplanes can fly and why rockets reach space.
Stretch Challenge
Try this in real life this week.
This week, find one thing in your house that turns one kind of energy into another.
For the dinner table
“Show me something at home that uses this kind of energy.”
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Earth's Magnetic Field
Run the experiment. Find out what really happens.
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