How can you find out the strength of a magnet? In the simple experiment you will learn more about the strength of a magnetic force field.
Things Required:
Box of small paper clips
Bar magnets, several different sizes
Masking tape
Directions:
Tape the magnet to a table with part of the magnet extending over the edge of the table. Bend open the end of a paper clip and touch it to the bottom of the part of the magnet that extends over the edge of the table. Add paper clips one at a time to the open clip until the clips pull loose from the magnet and fall. Repeat this experiment with magnets of different sizes.
This Is What Happens:
The open paper clip hangs freely under the magnet. It continues to hang attached to the magnet as additional paper clips are added. The number of clips needed to cause the clips to fall will vary with different magnets.
Science Behind It:
Magnetic materials like steel contain clusters of atoms that behave like tiny magnets. These atomic clusters are called magnetic domains. Holding the paper clips near a magnet causes the magnetic domains inside to line up. The strength of the magnet increases as the number of domains pointing in the same direction increases. A weak magnet has a weak magnetic field around it, so its effect on magnetic materials such as paper clips is small. The number of paper clips that your magnet is able to support depends on its magnetic strength.
