Magnets Attract or Repel?

Overview:

An activity where students determine whether each arrangement of magnets would attract or repel, without the support of a guide. This encourages independent thinking and application of knowledge about magnetic poles. Designed for middle and upper years students.

Learning Objectives:

• Understand how magnets interact based on their poles.
• Apply knowledge of magnetism to predict interactions between magnets.
• Develop critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

How the Activity Works:

Students are given different arrangements of magnets (e.g., north pole to north pole, north pole to south pole, etc.) and must decide whether the magnets will attract or repel. Students will indicate their answers by drawing arrows or using symbols to represent attraction or repulsion. This activity challenges students to apply their understanding of magnetic poles and encourages independent thinking by requiring them to predict magnet behaviour without a guide. Through this exercise, students reinforce their grasp of the basic principles of magnetism and how opposite and like poles interact.

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