Magnets and Properties of Matter

Andrea had two long magnets. She tried to get the end of one magnet to stick to the end of the other magnet. No matter how hard she tried, she could not force the ends of the magnets to touch each other. Why did the magnets repel each other?

• The north pole of one magnet and the south pole of the other magnet were facing each other.

• The south poles of the magnets were facing each other.

• The magnets were too close together to feel the pull of magnetism.

Gavin is doing an experiment on magnetism. He observes that a piece of paper is not pulled toward a magnet. He wonders why a magnet is able to stick to paper on a magnetic refrigerator. Which statement BEST explains why this can happen?

• A. The magnet is attracted to the refrigerator metal through the paper.

• B. The paper contains nickel, iron, or cobalt.

• C. The paper has been rubbed many times with a magnet.

Which of these objects will be attracted to a magnet?

• An iron fork

• An aluminum nail

• A copper penny

At a recycling center, a large, powerful magnet is sometimes used to separate different kinds of trash. What kind of separation of materials can the magnet help with?

• All metals can be separated from all nonmetals.

• Iron can be separated from other materials.

• Heavy materials can be separated from lighter ones.

Nicole placed a magnet on one side of her desk and a metal pencil case with some pencils in it on the other side. She wanted to see if the pencil case would move toward the magnet. The pencil case did not move. Which of these is most likely the reason that the pencil case stayed on the other side of the desk from the magnet?

• The pencil case was made of a material other than iron, steel, or nickel.

• The desk stopped the magnet from working.

• The pencil case was too close to the magnet to feel the pull of the magnet.

Look at the picture of two bar magnets hanging from strings. Which of these BEST explains why the magnets do not stick together?

• The north pole of magnet 1 and the south pole of magnet 2 attract each other.

• Magnets usually attract each other.

• The north pole of magnet 1 and the north pole of magnet 2 attract each other.

Bar magnets have a north pole (N) and a south pole (S). Latrisha places a bar magnet on three small straws so it can roll. Her setup is shown below. Placing which of the following objects at point X will cause the bar magnet to roll toward point X?

• the north end of another bar magnet

• the south end of another bar magnet

• an iron nail

Taylor is investigating two magnets on the table. An image is provided. If Taylor pushes Magnet B in the direction of the arrow, which of the following will MOST likely happen?

• Magnet A will move toward Magnet B until it touches.

• Magnet A will move further away from Magnet B.

• Magnet A will not move, even if Magnet B touches it.

An iron ball was rolled down a ramp with a strong magnet near the bottom. Which of the following shows the most likely path the ball will follow?

• Ramp A

• Ramp B

• Ramp C

James is investigating magnets and movement. He has two magnets and an iron nail. If James wants to illustrate how magnetic force can make things repel each other, which arrangement of objects should be used?

• (Diagram showing two magnets with like poles facing each other and an iron nail to the side)

• (Diagram showing two magnets with opposite poles facing each other)

• (Diagram showing one magnet and an iron nail)

• (Diagram showing two magnets with like poles facing each other)