Kids Science Experiments - Magnets Pointing North
Magnetism Experiment
Pointing North
Materials you will need:
• Water
• A Bowl
• A Compass
• Two Small Pieces of Paper or Sliced Cork
• Two Needle-Magnets (refer to experiment - Make Needle-Magnets)Did you know that the Earth acts like a giant magnet and attracts other magnets towards its north pole? Try this experiment with two needle-magnets to see how the Earth pulls on magnets.
Steps:
1. Float a small piece of paper in a bowl of water and rest a needle-magnet on it. When the needle is still mark which way it points.
2. Now do the same with the second needle-magnet. Both needles should point the same direction, which is along a north-south line.How to find north: To find out which end of your needle-magnet points north, you can either use a compass or you can use your shadow. Go outside at midday on a sunny day. If you are north of the equator, your shadow will point north. If you are south of the equator, it will point south.
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