Contributed by: Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO)
TO THE STUDENT
Welcome to this science exercise. We hope that you will find it interesting
and fun. Carefully read through these directions and the directions
on the next page before you begin to work.
You may be part of a group for the first part of this exercise.
Each group should carry out the experiment and collect the information
together. But each student must record the information in his or
her own booklet. Be sure to record the information exactly as you
see it. After the information has been collected, each student should
answer the questions alone.
After you have finished your experiment and have recorded all
of the information, you will be asked to answer some questions about
the experiment and the information you recorded. Your answers must
be written in this test booklet in the space provided. Make sure
that you understand each question before you begin to write. At
any time while you are writing your answers, you may look back to
the directions for the experiment and the information you collected.
Be sure that your answers are written as clearly and neatly as possible.
Before you turn the page, read the list of materials given below
and check to make sure that your group has everything listed.
Materials
- 1 compass
- 1 bar magnet
- 1 penny
- 1 colored pencil or crayon
- pen or pencil
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AFTER YOU HAVE READ THE DIRECTIONS, TURN TO THE NEXT PAGE AND BEGIN.
Magnetic Mapping
One day you are hiking in the woods and carrying your compass.
The compass needle usually points north but now it keeps pointing
toward your pocket. Your pocket contains a penny and a magnet. Can
either a penny or magnet affect your compass needle?
Find the Magnetic Map on the next page. Place the map on
a desk. Be sure that the arrows point north. North is the direction
in which the dark end of the compass needle points when the compass
is placed, by itself, on the Magnetic Map. You will use the Magnetic
Map to see if either the penny or magnet affect the compass needle.
Students will work in groups of four, but each student will
write the results in his or her own booklet.
| Step 1. |
Place the penny in the center of the shaded box on the Magnetic
Map. Put the compass on Circle A. Use your pencil to draw
an arrow that shows where the dark end of the compass needle
points. See the example in the picture below.
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| Step 2. |
Now, move the compass to Circle B. Draw an arrow with your
pencil that shows where the dark end of the compass needle
points. Do this for the other three circles. Make sure to
use your pencil for all of the arrows you draw for the penny.
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| Step 3. |
Remove the penny and place the magnet in the center of the
shaded box on the Magnetic Map. Put the compass on Circle
A. Use your colored pencil to draw an arrow that shows where
the dark end of the compass needle points.
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| Step 4. |
Complete your test of the magnet by moving the compass to
each of the other circles on the map and drawing an arrow
to show where the dark end of the compass needle points. Make
sure to use your colored pencil for all of the arrows you
draw for the magnet.
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When you are done, go back to your desk. Use the arrows that you
drew on your Magnetic Map to help you answer the following questions.
Questions
Please answer the following questions by yourself.
- Based on the results of your experiment, do either the penny
or the magnet seem to be causing your compass to work incorrectly?
Explain your answer.
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- Look at the map drawn below. Which way will the compass point
if it is placed at each of the circles, numbered 1 through 4?
Draw arrows on the map to show your predictions.
Explain why you made these predictions and drew the arrows where
you did on the map above.
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