51ºÚÁÏ

Engage your students in a hands on, two part practical experiment to investigate the effect of distance on the force of a magnet. This resource includes aims, materials, methods and results tables. Students are challenged to graph their results and answer post-practical questions to assess their understanding.

Experiment 1: Gravity-Defying Paperclip

In this experiment, students investigate how the strength of a magnetic force changes with distance. By raising a magnet incrementally and measuring when a suspended paperclip is no longer attracted to it, students collect data, make observations, and practice skills such as accurate measurement and scientific recording.

Experiment 2: Magnets and the Missing Mass

Students explore how increasing the distance between a magnet and a suspended paperclip affects the apparent mass of the magnet. This activity reinforces key physics concepts, including magnetic fields, forces, and Newton’s Second Law, while challenging students to graph and analyze their results.

Reflection and Critical Thinking Questions:
Both experiments include guiding questions to prompt deeper thinking. These questions encourage students to reflect on how forces act at a distance, the relationship between magnetism and Newton’s laws, and how different materials or conditions could change the outcome.

NSW Syllabus Outcomes:

SC4-FOR-01: Describes the effects of forces in everyday contexts