Year 9 - Science
Magnetic poles
Magnets and electromagnets
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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 magnetism, including magnetic poles, fields, and Earth's magnetism, along with the principles of electromagnets and DC motors. It focuses on conducting precise scientific enquiries and identifying variables and emphasises accuracy, repeatability, and reproducibility.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe how magnets can attract magnetic materials, as well as attract and repel other magnets.
Key Notes
- All magnets have a north–seeking pole and a south–seeking pole.
- Unlike magnetic poles attract each other, and similar magnetic poles repel each other.
- Magnetic materials are attracted to both north–seeking and south–seeking magnetic poles.
- Just three metal elements (iron, cobalt and nickel) are magnetic; other metal and non–metal elements are not magnetic.
- A north–seeking pole will point towards the North Pole because Earth has a magnetic field.
Vocabulary To Learn
- north–seeking magnetic pole: the end of a magnet that points to the north
- south–seeking magnetic pole: the end of a magnet that points to the south
- attract: a force that makes things move together
- magnetic field: an area where a magnetic pole will align in a particular direction
- repel: a force that makes things move apart
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- All metals are magnetic and an object with a static electric charge is magnetic.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
All magnets have a north–seeking pole and a south–seeking pole. Unlike magnetic poles attract each other, and similar magnetic poles repel each other.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'north–seeking magnetic pole'
the end of a magnet that points to the north. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: All metals are magnetic and an object with a static electric charge is magnetic. Correction: Provide opportunities for pupils to test some metals that are not magnetic, and a balloon with a static electric charge with a magnet.
More Lessons In This Unit
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