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

energy
kinetic

Materials Needed

ruler
cardboard
marbles
paper clips
rubber bands

Safety First

Tie back long hair before starting the experiment.
Protect your work surface with newspaper or plastic.

Steps

Step 1 — Read

Read about Magnets and write down three key facts.

Step 2 — Do

Build an electromagnet by wrapping insulated wire around a nail and connecting it to a battery. Test how many paper clips it can pick up. Try adding more wire coils.

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?