For this demonstration, you will need:

• a magnet


• a small steel or iron nail


• a thumbtack or paper clip with no plastic coating

Directions:

1. Put the tack on a table, and hold the point of the nail over it.

2. Then slowly move your magnet toward the other end of the nail.

Answer the following questions.

a. Does the magnet have to be touching the nail to lift the tack or paper clip?

b. How close does it have to be? Experiment with different sized magnets.

c. Does the size of the magnetic field change with the size of the magnet?

Click on the Activity Button to download the Magnetic Fields Assignment.