Our Role as Physicists
What role do students take on at the start of the unit?
Student physicists
What are the two ways magnets can interact with each other?
Attract and repel
What digital tool lets students explore how magnets interact?
The Magnetic Fields Simulation
What type of energy is energy of motion?
What type of energy is energy of motion?
What causes energy to transfer from one object to another?
A force
What organization is testing the magnetic spacecraft launcher?
The Universal Space Agency
What happens when like magnetic poles face each other?
They repel
What invisible region around a magnet shows where magnetic forces act?
A magnetic field
What type of energy is stored energy?
Potential energy
What force transfers energy between magnets?
Magnetic force
What problem are students trying to investigate in the launcher tests?
An unexpected result / a problem with a launch
What happens when opposite magnetic poles face each other?
They attract
What do magnetic field lines help scientists understand?
The direction and strength of magnetic forces
When magnets repel and move apart, what type of energy increases?
Kinetic energy
When a magnet is released and starts moving, what happens to its energy?
Potential energy is converted to kinetic energy
Why do scientists investigate unexpected results instead of ignoring them?
They can reveal new information or problems with a model
How can magnets affect objects without touching them?
By exerting a magnetic force at a distance
Why do scientists use simulations along with hands-on investigations?
To test ideas safely, repeatedly, and control variables
Where is potential energy stored in a magnet system?
In the magnetic field
How do magnets cause objects to move without touching them?
Magnetic force transfers energy through the magnetic field
What is the main goal of the launcher investigation?
To figure out how the spacecraft can move without touching the launcher
Why are magnets useful in a spacecraft launcher design?
They can apply force without contact
How does the Magnetic Fields Simulation help explain spacecraft motion?
It shows how magnetic forces can cause movement without contact
Why does a moving spacecraft have kinetic energy?
Because it is in motion
Explain how a magnetic launcher transfers energy to the spacecraft.
Magnetic potential energy is transferred by magnetic force and converted to kinetic energy