| Magnetism is a scientific term that basically states that | | | | some iron filings on a piece of paper and then putting a |
| materials exert an attractive or repulsive force on | | | | magnet underneath. The filings will arrange themselves |
| other materials. Every object is made up of atoms, | | | | in such a way that you will be able to “see” the |
| and because of that, they all have a charge that | | | | magnetic field. Actually, you won't see the field, but you |
| causes other objects to be attracted or repulsed. This | | | | definitely see the effects of the field on the iron filings. |
| fact doesn't always seem to be apparent. For | | | | There are a wide variety of scientific products and |
| example, the computer screen you are viewing right | | | | supplies that help to teach the principles of magnetism |
| now doesn't seem to be pushing you away or trying | | | | and magnetic fields. These science products range |
| to pull you in. That said, many objects have such a | | | | from simple to complex, and all help to accomplish a |
| slight pull that it is nearly impossible to detect without | | | | higher level of learning and understanding of the |
| strong measuring devices. There are other objects | | | | principles behind magnetism. Magnetism is extensively |
| that you are most certainly aware of, called magnets, | | | | tied to electricity, and it is difficult to teach one without |
| that make this force very apparent and easy to | | | | touching on the other. Scientists such as Oersted, |
| observe. | | | | Faraday, Gauss and Maxwell have all contributed to |
| Some of the more common magnets include nickel, | | | | our understanding of magnetism, and have provided us |
| iron, cobalt and their alloys. These materials will always | | | | with a fundamental knowledge of this important |
| be pushing or pulling each other towards or away | | | | scientific principle. |
| from themselves. There are simple experiments that | | | | Magnetism affects our lives on a daily basis, and |
| you can perform with magnets, all dependent upon the | | | | contributes to many of the tools and products we use |
| type of magnet you are using, as well as the | | | | and rely on. For example, without a proper |
| “pole” that you are using. The poles of a magnet | | | | understanding of magnetism, we could never have put |
| help determine whether the other object will be | | | | electricity in our homes. Magnetism is crucial to the |
| repulsed or attracted. The pull of the magnet is actually | | | | development of AC or alternating current, which is |
| caused by the electrons in the atoms that make up | | | | used in most homes and businesses throughout the |
| the material. A strong magnetic pull is present when | | | | world. A proper understanding of magnetism can be |
| more of the electrons are spinning in the same | | | | achieved by using hands-on science products such as |
| direction. Once all, or most, of the electrons in a given | | | | Oersted’s Law apparatus, magnetic lines of force |
| material are all going the same way, the pull will be the | | | | demonstrators and electromagnets to name a few. |
| strongest. | | | | These hands-on science products will help students to |
| All magnets produce a magnetic field. This field will | | | | achieve a fundamental understanding of the scientific |
| have different attractions in different directions. The | | | | laws and principles involved in magnetism. |
| easiest way to observe this magnetic field is by putting | | | | |