SCIENCE 10
Learning Activity Sheets
Magnetism and Magnetic Field
Using this activity sheets learners are expected to:
1. identify the properties of magnet;
2. discuss magnetic field; and
3. draw a magnetic field lines of a bar magnet.
Key Concepts:
• Ancient Chinese are believed to have discovered the magnetic property possessed by certain types of naturally
magnetized pieces of iron called magnetite or lodestone. The word lodestone means leading stone. When
lodestones are suspended, they always point to the north-south direction. This property was used to develop the
first magnetic compass for navigational purposes.
• A bar magnet consisting of two magnetic poles will exert a force on each other. Suppose you suspend a bar magnet
and allow it to rest. If you bring the north pole of another bar magnet close to the north pole of the suspended
magnet, the suspended magnet moves away. The same thing will happen if the south pole end of the bar magnet is
brought near the south pole of the suspended magnet. On the other hand, if the north pole of a bar magnet is
brought close to the south pole of the suspended magnet, it will result in attraction between the two poles. This is
the concept of the Law of Magnetism.
• Any given material can be classified as a magnet, a magnetic material or non-magnetic material. To do this
classification, the forces that materials exert on each other are observed. Magnetic materials such as iron, cobalt,
nickel and many alloys based on these metals can be used to make magnets. Materials that are not attracted by
magnets are called non-magnetic materials. These include wood, cooper, paper, aluminum, brass and glass.
• Suppose you have two iron nails that brought close to each other. You expect that nothing will happen and that they
will not attract nor repel each other. If a bar magnet is brought close to an iron nail, the nail itself becomes a magnet.
As a result, the nail attracts the other iron nail. This process is called induction.
• Earth itself is a very large magnet at its center, and it has two magnetic poles; north magnetic pole and south
magnetic pole. The needle in a compass point to a magnetic pole. If you are away from the poles, you can use the
compass to determine your way around. Early convention for compass called the end of the needle that points to the
Earth’s magnetic pole as the north-seeking pole. The other end is called the south-seeking pole.
• The region around the magnet the magnet where magnetic effects can be detected is called the magnetic field.
• If two magnets are close to each other, the lines of force represent the combined effects of both magnets. When two
strong magnets are arranged such that their poles are facing each other, their magnetic fields combine, resulting in
attraction. On the other hand, their magnetic fields combine, resulting in attraction. On the other hand, if the same
poles are placed closed to each other, their magnetic fields cancel out each out and result in a neutral point. The
neutral point is a point in a combined magnetic field where there is no magnetic effect. When a compass is placed at
this point, the needle will not point in any direction influenced by the magnetic field.
Magnetic Magnetic Field lines of a bar
Field lines of a magnet; unlike poles vs. like poles.
bar magnet.
Guide Questions:
1. How do lodestone function?
2. What are the two poles of bar magnet?
3. Fill out the blanks with the correct answer:
Like poles ___________.
Opposite poles ____________.
4. What can be the relevance between magnetic materials and conductors?
5. What can be the relevance between non-magnetic materials and insulators?
6. Summarize the Law of Magnetism.
7. What can be inferred in the principle of induction?
8. How do compass function and are used as daily basis?
9. What is a magnetic field?
10. Draw the magnetic field of bar magnets with opposite poles near each other and locate the neutral point.
11. Differentiate the magnetic field between magnets with opposite poles near each other versus magnets with like
poles facing each other.