Magnetism

Magnetic and non-magnetic substances

Principle

The students should understand that objects, which are made of iron ? or, at least, contain iron ? are attracted by a magnet. They should further become aware that both poles of a magnet are identical in their effects on iron ...

Magnetic poles and polarity

Principle

The pupils should understand

• that that it is at the two ends of a bar magnet, the magnetic poles, that the strongest forces appear.
• why the two ends of a magnet are called the north and the south poles.
• how one ...

Magnetic attraction (distant effect)

Principle

The pupils learn that

• magnetic forces also act when a magnet and an iron object are not in contact.
• the magnetic force increases with decreasing distance.
• the magnetic force depends on the size of the attracted ...

Magnetisation and de-magnetisation

Principle

The pupils learn how to magnetize and de-magnetize iron obejcts and are able to explain these events with the help of the concept of elementary magnets.

Task

To produce magnets from iron rods and iron powder. To de ...

Breaking down magnets (elementary magnets)

Principle

The students should learn that, on dividing a magnet into two pieces, magnets having north and south poles are always produced. It is not possible to produce a magnet with only one pole.

Task

Are there magnets with ...

Combining magnets

Principle

The pupils should observe and be able to explain that magnets lying next to each other produce a stronger effect than an identical, single magnet when the two magnets are so positioned that identical poles face one another; when the magnets are arran ...

Representation of the field lines of a bar magnet

Principle

The pupils should gain a first impression of the structure of a magnetic field.

Task

To illustrate the shape of a magnetic field using bar magnets and iron powder.

Direction of the field lines of a bar magnet

Principle

The pupils should learn that one can make a magnetic field visible with directional lines whose direction is determinded by starting the lines from the north pole. The pupils should obtain an impression of the spatial organization of the magnetic fiel ...

Pattern produced by the field lines of two like poles

Principle

The pupils should identify the principal course of field lines between identical magnetic poles.

Task

To investigate, using iron powder and the magnetic field sensor, the field structure between two identical magnet ...

Pattern produced by the field lines of two unlike poles

Principle

The pupils should identify the principal course of filed lines between opposite magnetic poles.

Task

To investigate the field pattern between two opposite magnetic poles using iron powder and a compass.

The earth's magnetic field

Principle

The students should become aware of the factors which may have an influence when determining the direction with a magnet and obtain an impression of the shape of the Earth's magnetic field.

Task

An experiment ...