Easy Classroom Demonstrations with Magnets
Explaining the science of magnets to students can be difficult. Hearing the words come out of a teacher’s mouth is one thing but actually seeing the way magnets interact with each other and other materials can really help drive the point home.
These simple experiments with magnets will exhibit how magnets work while still keeping students’ attention.
Demonstrating Magnetic Fields
What you’ll need:
- A disc magnet at least ½ in. in diameter and ½ in. thick
- 3 feet of PVC tubing
- A pencil
- A 3 ft. long brass or aluminum tube that both the magnet and pencil could slide down
- Iron filings
- A plastic soda bottle with the labels removed
- A long, plastic test tube that can fit into the bottle
- Masking tape
- Small sphere magnets (small enough to fit into the test tube)