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Is it a Magnet?

In this activity, students find ways to test if something is a magnet and what materials are magnetic.

Objectives

  • Explain the difference between magnetic and non-magnetic materials.

Materials

  • Per Class or Group:
    magnets of all shapes and sizes.
    other items that may/may not be magnetic.

Key Questions

  • How can you tell if something is magnetic?

What To Do

  1. Ask the students which of the items are magnets (include some that will confuse them).
  2. Identify the idea of testing to determine what is a magnet, what test could we use? (e.g. Will it pick up paperclips?).
  3. Test a few items.
  4. Pass out collections of magnets and magnetic items and ask students to discover which items are magnets.

Extensions

  • Can you think of other things that contain magnets? Some examples: headphones, computer speakers, telephone receivers, phone ringers, microwave tubes, doorbell ringer, refrigerator magnets to hold things, credit card magnetic strip, computer hard drive recording and reading head, dishwasher water valve solenoid, shower curtain weights / attach to tub, timers (microwave, dishwasher, washer/dryer), kitchen exhaust fans, cell phone vibrator, can opener (motor, lid holder magnet), car electric door locks, car engine speed sensors.)

About the sticker

Survivors

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Egg BB

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

Comet Crisp

Artist: Jeff Kulak

Jeff is a senior graphic designer at Science World. His illustration work has been published in the Walrus, The National Post, Reader’s Digest and Chickadee Magazine. He loves to make music, ride bikes, and spend time in the forest.

About the sticker

T-Rex and Baby

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Buddy the T-Rex

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Geodessy

Artist: Michelle Yong

Michelle is a designer with a focus on creating joyful digital experiences! She enjoys exploring the potential forms that an idea can express itself in and helping then take shape.

About the sticker

Science Buddies

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Western Dinosaur

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.

About the sticker

Time-Travel T-Rex

Artist: Ty Dale

From Canada, Ty was born in Vancouver, British Columbia in 1993. From his chaotic workspace he draws in several different illustrative styles with thick outlines, bold colours and quirky-child like drawings. Ty distils the world around him into its basic geometry, prompting us to look at the mundane in a different way.