Transcript Magnetism
Magnetism
4th grade Science
What is a
magnet?
Any object with
magnetic force
Magnetic Poles
• The parts of a magnet where the
magnetic force is strongest
• All magnets have two poles- a north
and a south pole
• When two magnets come together, a
north and south pole attract each other
• “Like” poles (north-north or southsouth) repel each other
Magnetic Force
The force that pushes magnets apart
or pulls them together
• Magnets that are far apart do not push
or pull enough to move each other.
• The magnetic force between two
magnets is weak when magnets are far
apart.
• The magnetic force gets stronger as the
magnets are brought closer together.
What kinds of materials
are attracted to magnets?
What kinds of materials
are not attracted to
magnets?
Let’s see...Conduct
Investigation!
Magnetic Field
The area of magnetic force
around a magnet
• This is how a magnet can attract or
repel objects without touching them.
• Every magnet has a magnetic field
around it.
• The magnetic field is strongest near the
magnet’s poles. The magnetic field is
weakest farther away from the poles.
Did you know?
• Our planet is a giant magnet. Much of
the Earth is made of iron which creates
a magnetic field that surround Earth.
• Long ago people noticed one end of a
magnet pointed north so they called it
the “north-seeking end”. The same
happened with the “south-seeking
end”. It was shortened to north and
south poles of a magnet.
Drawing Conclusions
Investigation
Teacher
demonstration…
Why does this
happen?
Michael Faraday
and Joseph Henry
in 1820s and 1830s
•Made amazing discoveries about electric
currents and magnets
•They found that electric currents make
magnetic fields and that magnets could
generate an electric current.
What is an
electromagnet?
A magnet formed when
electric current flows
through wire wrapped in
coils around an iron bar
How does an
electromagnet work?
•When an electric current flows through the coil, it
creates a magnetic field.
•This magnetic field causes particles inside the
metal coil to line up.
•The metal core becomes magnetic.
•When the current stops, the metal core is no longer
magnetic.
Let’s try it!
Build an electromagnet...
Materials: power source (battery), 1 piece of
wire (50 cm in length), nail
Investigation:
1. Wind the wire around a nail 20 times.
2. Attach the wire ends to the battery.
3. Test it!