Magnets

Essential Question
How do magnets/interact work with different metals?

Objectives

 * Compare the strength of different metals' magnetism.
 * Classify materials/metals based on different properties.

Introduction & Student Background
What is a magnet? How does it work? What makes a material magnetic? In this activity, students will use magnets and/or different metals to create a painting.

Vocabulary
Ferromagnetic: a material that is attracted to a magnet

Permanent magnet: a material that creates a magnetic field

Materials

 * one strong magnet (do not use materials that consist of magnetic tape)
 * coins (pennies work best)
 * paper clips
 * magnetic marble
 * optional: paint
 * printer paper
 * cardboard box
 * scissors
 * duct tape
 * scotch/clear tape

PREP

 * 1) Set up the cardboard box as a table/platform for the paper by turning it upside down and cutting one side/flap off. See Fig. A.
 * 2) Tape other flaps to the table using duct tape.
 * 3) Put the paper clips in one bowl and put the pennies in another bowl.
 * 4) Put acrylic paint in a paper plate (right before the event). Repeat for multiple colors.
 * 5) Create additional cardboard box tables depending on how many students will be at the station at a time.
 * 6) Set out a magnet for each station.

ACTIVITY

 * 1) Ask students what they know about magnets and have them predict which materials will be attracted to the magnets.
 * 2) Tape a piece of paper to the box using scotch/clear tape.
 * 3) Have them choose one of the metals (paper clips, pennies, etc.) and dip it in the acrylic paint.  Put the metal piece on the sheet of paper.
 * 4) Have them take a magnet and move it under the box so that the metal moves on top of the paper, creating a painting.

How it Fits to Standard

 * Answer questions by explaining observations about the natural world.

Follow Up
What qualities make a metal piece magnetic? Why would coins not be magnetic?