Magnetic materials
This Topic is About...
- I will investigate which materials are magnetic.
- I will find out which types of scientific enquiry we are using.
- I will make predictions and compare them with our results.
- I will use patterns in results to make conclusions.
You’re going to be a science explorer!
Magnetic or non-magnetic?
Sofia and Arun are using magnets to pull toy cars. Sofia’s car is not moving. Why?
Sofia’s car is not attracted to the magnet because it is made of wood. Wood is a non-magnetic material. Arun’s car is made of a metal called steel. Steel is magnetic.
FUN QUESTIONS
1. Name a magnetic material.
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2. Name a non-magnetic material.
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3. Why didn’t Sofia’s car move?
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Let’s Investigate!
Predicting which materials are magnetic
You will need
- a magnet
- some different materials to test
- Predict which materials will be magnetic.
- Test the materials to see whether you were right.
There are five types of scientific enquiry: research, fair testing, observing over time, identifying and classifying, or pattern seeking. This activity is a classifying enquiry. You will classify materials by whether they are magnetic or non-magnetic.
Record your results
Write your predictions and results in a table like this:
| Object | Material | Prediction | Result |
| plastic bottle | plastic | non-magnetic | non-magnetic |
Were your predictions correct?
You can use pattern seeking to help you classify the materials. Make a new table like this to see the pattern more clearly:
| Magnetic materials | Non-magnetic materials |
| wood |
Can you see the pattern now? What types of materials are magnetic? Use the pattern to write a conclusion. Make sure it gives the answer to the investigation question.
How am I doing?
Did you test each material carefully?
Did you classify each one correctly?
Can you explain the pattern in your results?
Did you write a clear conclusion that answers the question?
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Expected pattern
- Magnetic materials are usually metals.
- But not all metals are magnetic.
- The main magnetic materials are iron, steel, nickel and cobalt.
- Most other materials (plastic, wood, glass, rubber, fabric) are non-magnetic.
Example conclusion
“The magnetic materials in my test were all metals containing iron. Materials such as wood, plastic and fabric were non-magnetic. This shows that only some metals are magnetic.”
Let’s Investigate!
Which metals are magnetic?
You will need
- samples of different metals
- a magnet
Predict which metals will be magnetic and which will be non-magnetic. Then test each metal to see whether your predictions were correct.
Record your results
| Metal | Prediction | Result |
| Steel | magnetic | magnetic |
| Aluminium | magnetic | non-magnetic |
Which type of scientific enquiry is this: research, fair testing, observing over time, identifying and classifying, or pattern seeking?
This is an identifying and classifying enquiry.
Were your predictions correct? Use your results to write a conclusion. Make sure it answers the investigation question.
How am I doing?
Share your results with a friend.
Did you both get the same results for each metal?
If not, you will need to test that metal again to check.
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Expected findings
- Magnetic metals: iron, steel, nickel, cobalt
- Non-magnetic metals: aluminium, copper, silver, gold, zinc, chrome, lead
Steel is magnetic because it contains iron. Aluminium is non-magnetic because it does not contain iron.
Example conclusion
“Only metals that contain iron (such as steel) are magnetic. Metals like aluminium, copper and gold are non-magnetic.”