Introduction
There are many types of forces, but you are probably familiar with the contact forces that happen between objects that touch.
On the other hand, there are forces that can act on an object without touching it, like Magnetism.
Task
When you bring two magnets together they can attract, repel, or pull on each other. They can also repel or push away from each other
as shown in the youtube video embedded above.
So magnets can attract or repel each other without touching.
The force that causes this to happen is called the magnetic force. A magnet is any object with a magnetic force.
After watching the video above, perform the following experiment:
- Materials needed: a pile of paper clips, a magnet, and a ruler.
- Hold the magnet and move it slowly until it is only 1cm above the pile.
- Move the magnet away from the pile, remove the paper clips and count how many are stuck to the magnet.
Process
Repeat the step, holding the magnet at different distances from the pile of paper clips, and record the number of the clips that stuck at each distance.
Evaluation
- A magnet can pull a paperclip because it is made up of metal.
- When the distance between the pile of paper clips and the magnet increases the number of paper clips that are stuck to the magnet decrease. Thus magnetic force is affected by distance.