Forces & magnets

Exploring push, pull, friction and magnetic forces, and understanding which materials are magnetic

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
True or false? A magnet can attract objects made of wood. A) True B) False
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2
Which of these materials would be attracted to a magnet? A) An iron nail B) A plastic ruler C) A wooden spoon D) A glass marble
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3
True or false? Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole. A) True B) False
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4
Explain what happens when you push something. A push is a force that moves an object ___ from you.
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5
Complete the rule about magnetic poles. Two north poles will ___ each other, but a north and south pole will attract.
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6
Put these surfaces in order from most friction to least friction. Put these in order: Carpet, Sandpaper, Polished ice, Wooden floor
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7
What is friction? A) A force between two surfaces that slows movement down B) A force that makes magnets stick together C) A type of gravity D) A force that only works on metal
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8
A toy car rolls down a ramp. Order these from the strongest force on the car to the weakest. Put these in order: Gravity pulling it down the ramp, Friction from the ramp surface, Air resistance
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9
A magnet picks up a paperclip through a piece of cardboard. What does this tell us? A) Magnetic force can act through non-magnetic materials B) Cardboard is magnetic C) The paperclip is not magnetic D) Magnets only work through solid materials
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10
True or false? All metals are attracted to magnets. A) True B) False
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Answer key

Forces & magnets · for parents and teachers

1
False
False. Magnets only attract magnetic materials like iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt. Wood, plastic, and glass are not magnetic.
2
An iron nail
An iron nail is magnetic and would be attracted to a magnet. Plastic, wood, and glass are non-magnetic materials.
3
True
True. Every magnet has two poles: north and south. Even if you break a magnet in half, each piece will still have both a north and a south pole.
4
away
A push moves an object away from you. A pull moves an object towards you. Both pushes and pulls are contact forces.
5
repel
Like poles (north-north or south-south) repel each other. Opposite poles (north-south) attract each other. This is a fundamental rule of magnetism.
6
Sandpaper, Carpet, Wooden floor, Polished ice
Sandpaper is very rough (most friction), carpet is fairly rough, a wooden floor is smoother, and polished ice is very smooth (least friction).
7
A force between two surfaces that slows movement down
Friction is a force that acts between two surfaces in contact. It opposes movement, slowing things down. Rough surfaces create more friction than smooth ones.
8
Gravity pulling it down the ramp, Friction from the ramp surface, Air resistance
Gravity is the strongest force (makes it roll down). Friction from the surface is the next strongest force slowing it. Air resistance has a small effect on a slow toy car.
9
Magnetic force can act through non-magnetic materials
Magnetic force is a non-contact force. It can pass through non-magnetic materials like paper, cardboard, glass, and even water to attract magnetic objects.
10
False
False. Only metals containing iron, nickel, or cobalt are magnetic. Aluminium, copper, gold, and silver are metals that are NOT magnetic.