Year 3 - Science
Blocking magnetic force
Simple forces including magnets
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores how objects move on different surfaces and examines magnetic forces, including attraction, repulsion, and magnetic materials. It covers identifying magnetic poles and predicting interactions and emphasizes practical tests, observations, and presenting findings.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to explore different materials to investigate if magnetic force can be blocked.
Key Notes
- Magnetic forces can act at a distance when some materials are placed between the magnet and the magnetic material
- Scientists can carry out investigations to test which materials allow magnetic force to pass through
- Sometimes the results of an investigation are different to what was expected or predicted
Vocabulary To Learn
- magnetic force: Magnetic force is the force caused by a magnet.
- block: To block something is to stop it from moving or having an effect.
- non-contact force: A non-contact force is a force which occurs when objects are not touching each other.
- material: A material is the thing that objects are made from such as wood.
- predict: To predict is to say what you think will happen.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Magnets can exert a force through paper, but not wood, a table, or other thick materials.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
Magnetic forces can act at a distance when some materials are placed between the magnet and the magnetic material. Scientists can carry out investigations to test which materials allow magnetic force to pass through.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'magnetic force'
Magnetic force is the force caused by a magnet. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Magnets can exert a force through paper, but not wood, a table, or other thick materials. Correction: Explicit teaching and investigation will clarify that magnetic force can act through a range of materials.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Contact forces Study Guide
- Different magnets and their parts Study Guide
- Different surfaces in real life (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Different surfaces: do and review Study Guide
- Different surfaces: plan Study Guide
- Magnetic and non-magnetic materials Study Guide
- Magnetic force (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Magnetic force at a distance Study Guide
- Putting magnets together: attract or repel Study Guide
- Strongest magnet (non-statutory) Study Guide
- Using magnets to solve problems (non-statutory: Scientists and Engineers) Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 3 Science guide library.