Science Words
What word means a push or pull?
Force
Which will a magnet attract: an iron nail or a wooden block?
An iron nail.
What word means “pull together”?
Attract
What is the invisible region around a magnet where magnetic force can be detected?
A magnetic field.
What kind of electricity can build up when you rub a balloon against your hair?
Static electricity.
What word means “having something to do with electricity”?
Electric
What are the two ends of a magnet called?
North and south poles.
What word means “push apart”?
Repel
What happens to the force between two magnets when you move them closer together without turning them?
The force becomes stronger.
What happens when two objects have opposite electrical charges?
They attract.
An object is attracted to a magnet. What vocabulary word describes this property?
Magnetic
Where is a bar magnet’s force strongest?
At its poles.
What happens when two south poles face each other?
They repel.
How can you make two attracting magnets pull on each other less strongly without turning them?
Move them farther apart.
What happens when two objects have the same kind of electrical charge?
They repel.
A scientist describes an object’s color, shape, and magnetic behavior. What are these characteristics called?
Properties
Why does a magnet attract most steel paper clips but not a plastic ruler?
The steel paper clips contain iron; the plastic ruler does not.
Two magnets pull toward each other. One facing pole is north. What is the other facing pole?
South. Opposite poles attract.
What can you sprinkle on paper over a magnet to reveal its magnetic field pattern?
Iron filings.
After rubbing a balloon on your hair, your hair reaches toward the balloon. Why?
The hair and balloon have opposite charges, so they attract.
A magnet makes another magnet move without touching it. What vocabulary word describes one thing having an effect on another?
Interaction
A paper clip sticks to a magnet. Does that prove the paper clip is a permanent magnet? Explain.
No. An object can be attracted to a magnet without being a permanent magnet itself.
Two magnets are pushing apart. How could you change their orientation so they pull together instead?
Turn one magnet around so opposite poles face each other.
A magnet underneath a thin wooden tabletop moves a paper clip on top. What does this show about magnetic force?
It can act without touching and through some materials, such as thin wood.
How are static electrical force and magnetic force alike? Give two similarities.
Both can act without touching, and both can attract or repel.