S3.10.6 For the adult
Magnetic fields
How can I see the invisible push and pull around a magnet?
What this chapter teaches
A magnet has a field all round it. Field lines run from N to S outside the magnet and crowd together near the poles, where the field is strongest. A compass lines up with the field, and the Earth has a field like a huge bar magnet.
Three questions to ask
There is no one right wording. Listen for the idea.
- Where are the field lines closest together, and what does that mean?
- Which way does the black end of a compass point near the N pole of a magnet?
- Why does a compass point roughly north?
After the chapter, the learner can
- Map a magnet's field with a compass or bits of steel wool
- Explain that the Earth has a magnetic field
What they copy into their notebook
A magnet has a field all round it. Field lines run from N to S, closest near the poles. A compass lines up with them. The Earth has a field too.