Station 1: Love-Hate

Name: ______Date: ______Block: ____ IP 614 Magnet Mania!

In this lab we will be investigating magnets and their properties by performing seven experiments at seven stations around the room. YOU (no lab partners) are responsible for performing each experiment and summarizing what was done and observed at each station. You may complete the stations in any order. Just be sure that you complete all stations.

 Using the disk and bar magnets, find out which sides (poles) are attracted to or repelled by each other.  North pole and North pole: ______

 North pole and South pole: ______

 South pole and South pole: ______

 In summary, like poles ______and opposite poles ______.

 Then string the ring magnets on the stand and make them levitate!

 How many can you get to levitate at once? ______

 Why are they levitating?

 Why can’t you levitate an infinite amount?

 Write a general conclusion about magnets with experimental PROOF of your assertions. (This means that if you say something, you have to say “I know this because” And then give proof.) Station 2: Make-a-compass

 Make A Compass.  Fill a cup with water.  Rub one pin 50 times in one direction with a magnet.  Place a wooden coffee stirrer in the water so that it floats on the surface.  Balance pin on wood. (The pin must be perpendicular to the wood.) Note direction that pin points. Compare this to an actual compass pointing north.  Record observations about the compasses you made, as well as the actual compass.

 How does the compass work?

Station 3: Make a magnet

Before beginning this station choose a nail and drop it from about a meter high several times.

 Rub the steel nail with a magnet 50 times in one direction. How many staples are you able to pick up?______

 Rub a nail with a magnet an additional 50 times in one direction. How many staples are you able to pick up now?______

 Drop the nail from a one meter height 3 times. How many staples can you pick up after the drops? ______

 Explain why there is (or is not) a difference.

 How does this experiment work? Why is the nail becoming magnetized? Station 4: Attractiveness

 For each of the materials in the bags, PREDICT (before you do anything!!) which can be picked up with the magnet. Record your predictions.  Then try to pick them up with the magnet. YOU DO NOT NEED TO REMOVE THEM FROM THE BAG. Record the results. Material Prediction Results Station 5: Iron Filings

BE CAREFUL NOT TO GET THE IRON FILINGS IN DIRECT CONTACT WITH THE MAGNETS!!!  Take a plastic sheet protector with iron filings in it.  Place the large bar magnet beneath the clear, plastic sheet. Now gently tap the sheet until you can see the filings form some field lines. You will probably have to concentrate on one piece of the bar magnet at a time.  Draw and record your observations.

 Hypothesize as to why the field lines look the way they do.