1
Magnets: stick or not?
Discover Term 2: Axis 3, Chapter 2
GoalTest things with a magnet and say which ones it pulls towards itself.
New words
magnet · a piece of metal that pulls some metal things to itattract · to pull towards; a magnet attracts some metal things
Explanation
A magnet pulls some things towards it. We say it attracts them. A magnet attracts things made of iron or steel, like a paper clip, a nail or a steel tin can. A magnet does not attract paper, wool, glass, wood or plastic. Not every metal is attracted. To find out, we test: touch the magnet to the thing and see. Keep magnets away from phones, cards and screens. Small magnets can hurt if swallowed, so keep them away from little children.
Worked examples
Marwan holds a magnet near a paper clip. The paper clip jumps to the magnet.
Jana holds the magnet near a pencil. Nothing happens. A pencil is wood.
A magnet is kept away from the phone, so the phone is safe.
Class activity
Magnet test: with a grown-up, use a fridge magnet. Test six things, such as a paper clip, a pencil, a nail, a sock, a pin and a plastic cup. Before each test, guess: yes or no? Then test it and write the result in a two-column table. Keep the magnet away from phones and cards.
Practice
1
Will a magnet attract a paper clip?
Yes.
2
Will a magnet attract a piece of wool?
No.
3
Point to the two things a magnet will attract.
A and D: the nut and bolt and the tin can.
4
Where must we keep magnets away from? Name one thing.
Phones, cards or screens.