Magnetic Basics
What do we call the force that allows magnets to push or pull objects without touching them?
Magnetic Force
The invisible region around a magnet where magnetic forces act.
Magnetic field
Potential energy is best defined as this.
Stored energy
As launcher magnets get closer together, spacecraft speed generally does what?
Increase
When conducting an experiment, you should change only one of these at a time.
Variable
What vocabulary word means to push objects away from each other?
Repel
In a field line diagram, where is the magnetic force strongest?
Near the poles
When two repelling magnets are held together, energy is stored as this type of energy.
Potential energy
The Wednesday spacecraft launched faster than Tuesday because the magnets started at this distance.
A scientist changes magnet strength while also changing distance. This is an example of a poor experimental design because it changes more than one ____.
Variable
Magnets have two opposite ends called these.
Magnetic Poles
If North and North poles face each other, they do this.
Repel
When the magnets are released and move apart, the stored energy changes into this.
Kinetic energy
Kinetic energy
The magnetic force reading at 1 cm was 80 and 2 cm was 40. What happens to force as distance increases?
Which poles attract each other?
Opposite Poles
If you place an iron object inside a magnetic field line, it will likely do this.
Pushing repelling magnets closer together causes potential energy to do this.
If a spacecraft has greater mass but the launcher stays the same, its final speed will likely be this.
Lower (slower)
Why do scientists isolate variables?
To determine which factor caused the observed result.
Unlike magnetism, this force only attracts objects.
Gravity
A sensor in a magnetic field measures this property.
Magnetic field strength
Releasing a stationary magnetic system and observing motion provides evidence that the system contained this.
Stored potential energy
To maximize launch energy for a heavy spacecraft, scientists should use stronger magnets and this second strategy.
Moving the magnets closer together to create a smaller distance
Explain the energy transformation in a magnetic launcher.
Work is done against a magnetic force, energy is stored as magnetic potential energy, and then converted to kinetic energy when released.