Year 3 - Science
Magnetic force (non-statutory)
Simple forces including magnets
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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 explain how magnetic force was discovered by people throughout history, including important scientists.
Key Notes
- A magnet is a metal that attracts some other metals
- Not all metals are magnets, but all magnets are metallic
- Magnetic forces are forces caused by magnets
- Magnetic force was first discovered by people in ancient civilisations, when they observed a mineral called lodestone
- People have made discoveries about magnets, and used magnetic force to build and invent useful things
Vocabulary To Learn
- magnet: Magnets are metals that attract some other metals.
- metal: Most metals are strong, hard and shiny materials. Some metals are magnetic.
- attract: To attract something is to make it move closer.
- magnetic force: Magnetic forces are forces caused by magnets.
- lodestone: Lodestone is a type of rock that is a natural magnet.
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All metals and silver coloured objects are magnetic and are attracted to a magnet.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
A magnet is a metal that attracts some other metals. Not all metals are magnets, but all magnets are metallic.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'magnet'
Magnets are metals that attract some other metals. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: All metals and silver coloured objects are magnetic and are attracted to a magnet. Correction: Pupils test items in classroom and explicit explanation is given that magnets attract some, but not all metals.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Blocking magnetic force Study Guide
- 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 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.