Year 5 · Science · Physical sciences
Magnets: a force at a distance
Students explore how magnets attract some metals, how poles attract and repel, and how magnetism can act through materials.
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These lessons were written around Australian Curriculum strands and matched to UK year groups by age (Year 1 is the year a child turns 6 in England). They are not mapped to the National Curriculum in England or the curricula of Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland, so check them against your own plans.
Learning goals
Learners will
- Identify which materials are attracted to a magnet.
- Describe how the poles of magnets attract and repel each other.
- Investigate how magnetism acts at a distance and through different materials.
Success looks like
- I can predict and test which objects a magnet will attract.
- I can explain that like poles repel and unlike poles attract.
- I can show that a magnet works through paper, plastic and water.
The big idea
A magnet pulls, or attracts, some materials towards it. Materials that are attracted are called magnetic materials.
Only a few metals are magnetic: iron, steel (which is mostly iron), nickel and cobalt. Most metals are not magnetic. Aluminium foil, copper wire and gold rings are not attracted. Many food cans are made of steel and are attracted, but many drink cans are aluminium and are not.
Non-metals such as plastic, wood, glass, rubber and paper are not attracted to magnets.
Every magnet has two poles: a north pole and a south pole. The force is strongest at the poles.
- Unlike poles attract: a north pole and a south pole pull together.
- Like poles repel: two north poles, or two south poles, push apart.
Magnetism is a non-contact force. A magnet can pull a paper clip before it touches it. Magnetism can also act through materials such as paper, cardboard, plastic, thin wood and water. The thicker the material, or the further away the magnet, the weaker the pull.
Magnets are useful. They hold notes on fridges, keep cupboard doors shut and are used in compasses. A compass needle is a small magnet that lines up with Earth's own magnetism, so it points north. Very strong magnets on cranes are used to sort steel from other rubbish for recycling.
Worked examples
Magnetic or not?
Predict, then test, which objects the magnet attracts.
- Make a table with columns: Object, Prediction, Result.
- Write a prediction for each object.
- Touch the magnet to each object and record whether it is attracted.
- Results: steel paper clips and the steel bottle top are attracted. Foil, the aluminium can, plastic, cork, rubber and wood are not.
Answer: Only objects containing iron or steel were attracted. Being metal is not enough.
Poles push and pull
What happens when you bring different ends of two magnets together?
- Hold the north pole of one magnet near the south pole of the other: they snap together (attract).
- Turn one magnet around so two north poles face each other: you feel them push apart (repel).
- Try two south poles: they also repel.
Answer: Unlike poles attract; like poles repel.
Through how many sheets?
How many sheets of paper can a magnet pull a paper clip through?
- Put a paper clip on the table and lay one sheet of paper over it.
- Hold the magnet on top of the paper and lift: does the clip come up with the paper?
- Add one sheet at a time and repeat.
- Record the largest number of sheets that still worked.
Answer: The magnet works through several sheets, but the pull weakens as more sheets are added and the clip is further away.
Practice check
Have a go, then check your answers. Each answer comes with an explanation.
Answer guide for parents
Which object will a magnet attract?
A steel paper clip — Steel contains iron, which is magnetic.
What happens when two north poles are brought together?
They repel — Like poles repel.
What happens when a north pole is brought near a south pole?
They attract — Unlike poles attract.
Which statement is true?
Magnets can work through paper — Magnetism acts through paper, plastic, thin wood and water.
Why would a magnet NOT pick up an aluminium drink can?
Aluminium is not a magnetic metal — Aluminium is a metal, but it is not magnetic.
A magnet can pull without touching. Is magnetism a contact or non-contact force?
non-contact — Magnetism acts at a distance, so it is a non-contact force.
A magnet lifted a paper clip through 8 sheets of paper but not through 9. What is the most sheets it worked through?
8 — It worked through 8 sheets but failed at 9.
The two ends of a magnet, where the force is strongest, are called its ____.
poles — A magnet has a north pole and a south pole.
Watch out for
- Many students think magnets attract all metals. Only some metals, mainly iron, steel, nickel and cobalt, are magnetic.
- Students may think bigger magnets are always stronger. Size does not decide strength; test it.
- Some students think magnets need to touch an object to work. Magnetism acts at a distance and through many materials.
Tips for parents
- Let your child predict before every test, then record whether the prediction was right.
- If your magnets have no N and S marks, label one end with tape and find the matching ends by testing which pairs repel.
- Safety: keep small or strong magnets away from young children, because swallowing magnets is very dangerous. Keep magnets away from phones, bank cards and anyone with a pacemaker.
Go further
- Make a magnet maze: draw a path on cardboard and steer a paper clip along it with a magnet underneath.
- Make a simple compass by stroking a sewing needle with a magnet 30 times in one direction and floating it on a piece of cork in water (an adult handles the needle).
- Test whether a magnet works through water by dropping a paper clip into a clear cup and pulling it up the side with a magnet.
About 45 minutes
You'll need
- Two bar magnets with marked poles (or two strong fridge magnets)
- A collection: steel paper clips, a steel bottle top, aluminium foil, a plastic button, a pencil, a cork, a rubber band, a wooden peg, an aluminium drink can if you have one
- Sheets of paper, a piece of cardboard and a plastic lid
- A clear cup of water
- Paper and pencil for a results table
Key words
- magnet
- An object that attracts iron and some other metals and pushes or pulls on other magnets.
- attract
- To pull towards.
- repel
- To push away.
- pole
- One of the two ends of a magnet, called the north pole and the south pole, where the force is strongest.
- magnetic material
- A material that is attracted to a magnet, such as iron, steel or nickel.
- non-contact force
- A force that can act without touching, such as magnetism or gravity.
Still tricky?
For parents
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