Topic 2

Electricity and
Magnetism
Lesson 1 Electric Forces
Lesson 2 Magnetic Forces

Next Generation Science Standards

3-PS2-3 Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of
electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with
each other.
3-PS2-4 Define a simple design problem that can be solved by applying
scientific ideas about magnets.
3-5-ETS1-1 Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a need
or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on
materials, time, or cost.

50 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

 Go online to access
your digital course.

 VIDEO

 eTEXT

 INTERACTIVITY

 VIRTUAL LAB

 GAME

 ASSESSMENT

How can you solve a problem

using magnetic forces?
Show What You Know
This large magnet lifts scrap and then drops it in a truck.
What kind of material can the magnet pick up?

Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism 51

 Kickoff

STEM
Weigh to Go
How can you use magnets to save time?

I
, a systems engineer.
Hi! I am Elaine Plank
m s to m a ke sy stem s work better.
solve proble ds
in a warehouse nee
The packing system vy
s will be shipped. Hea
to identify how boxe
k. Lighter boxes go to
boxes go to one truc
kes workers a lot of
another truck. It ta
x.
time to weigh each bo
m -b ased le ar nin g activity, you will
In this proble t
p fin d a w a y to u se magnets to figure ou
hel
vy.
which boxes are hea
e
Q ues t ac tivities in each lesson will guid
The
ro ug h yo ur d es ig n process. As you
you th
pl ete ea ch pa rt of the Quest, use a
com
OFF to mar
k your
QUEST CHECK
r more
progress. Go online fo
Quest activities. Check-In 1

Lesson 1
Learn about factors that
affect electric force.

Next Generation Science Standards

3-PS2-4 Define a simple design problem that can be solved by applying
scientific ideas about magnets.
3-5-ETS1-1 Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a need
or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on
52 Topic
materials, 2 cost.
time, or Changes in Matter
 Check-In Lab 2

Lesson 2
Build a device that uses
magnetic force to sort
objects by weight.

22.6kg

Findings

Demonstrate your device

and make suggestions
to improve it.

Quest Kickoff 53
 u Connect Lab HANDS-ON LAB
3-PS2-3, SEP.1

How can you move

moveobjects
objects Materials

without touching them?

• balloons
• wool cloth
• tissue paper
Some forces work on objects without touching them. How can • foam packing
material
you make an object move without touching it?
Procedure Suggested
Materials
1. Place a balloon next to a wool cloth. Observe what • tissue paper
happens. Then rub the balloon with the wool cloth. • foam packing
materials
What happens when you pull the wool cloth away
from the balloon? Science Practice
Scientists
ask questions
that can be
investigated.
2. Based on the materials available, write a question
about moving objects without touching them.

3. Write a plan to investigate your question. Have your

teacher approve your plan before you begin. Record
your observations.

Analyze and Interpret Data

4. Draw Conclusions What can you conclude from your
investigation to answer your question?

54 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

 Literacy Connection

Sequence  GAME

Practice what you

When you sequence things that happen, you tell learn with the Mini
what happened in the correct order. When you read Games.

text, look for words that give clues to a sequence.

Look for words such as first, then, and finally.

Read this paragraph about magnets.

Lode the Way!

People first learned about magnets when
they observed that certain rocks pulled
some kinds of metal toward them. This rock
was called a lodestone. They observed that
lodestones could be used to turn an iron needle
into a magnet. These iron needles were then used to
make compasses. Sailors have used these compasses
for a very long time. Engineers have found many uses
for magnets in modern machines.

 READING CHECK Sequence Use numbers to

show the order of things that happened.

_______ People made needles into magnets.

_______ People use magnets in many ways today.

_______ People used needles for compasses.

_______ People learned that lodestone attracts iron.

Literacy Connection 55
 Lesson 1

Electric Forces
I can… SPORTS Connection
Relate the causes
Swimmers are getting ready for a swim meet.
and effects of
electric forces Some clouds are in the sky. But the sun is shining
between objects. at the swimming pool. Then a lifeguard sees the
3-PS2-3
flash of distant lightning. He blows his whistle
Literacy Skill loudly. Everyone gets out of the pool right away.
Sequence
They move into the locker room before the storm
Vocabulary arrives. Why is there so much concern?
electric charge
neutral The electricity of lightning can travel very
repel far from the storm. It can strike people and
attract
electric force other objects 15 kilometers (10 miles) or more
conductor away from where rain is falling. And it can
insulator travel through water very easily. People can be
static discharge
seriously hurt if they are struck by lightning.
Academic Vocabulary
That is why everyone must get out of the water
source
when a thunderstorm is moving to the area of
 VIDEO the pool. When you take part in outdoor sports,
Watch a video be very careful of lightning.
about electric
forces.  Reading Check Sequence Underline the
sentence in the first paragraph to show what
happened first at the swim meet. Circle the
sentence that shows what the people did next.

56 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

 u Investigate Lab HANDS-ON LAB
3-PS2-3, SEP.1

How can you keep Materials

objects in the air? • cloth

• 2 foam plates

Suggested
Scientists investigate how forces interact to cause changes. Materials
How can you use forces to keep an object in the air without • PVC pipe
touching it? • plastic bag

Procedure
1. Rub the cloth on one foam plate. Try to place the
Science Practice
other plate on top of it. Observe what happens.
Scientists ask
2. Write a question about keeping objects in the air that questions about
the natural
you could investigate using the materials. world.

Observations
3. Plan a way to test your question. Show
your plan to your teacher before you
begin. Record your observations.

Analyze and Interpret Data

4. Infer What can you infer from your
observations?

Lesson 1 Electric Forces 57

Literacy T lb x Electric Charge
You walk on a carpet and then touch a doorknob.
What is the sequence
of events that causes an A small spark jumps between your hand and the
electric shock? On a sheet doorknob. You hear a crackling sound. You got an
of paper, list all of the electric shock. The overall cause of the shock is a
steps in the sequence.
force.

All matter is made of small particles. One property

positive
of these particles is that they can have electric

+ + charges. Some charges are positive (+). Other

charges are negative (–). When matter has an
– – overall positive charge or a negative charge, we say
+ + + that it has an electric charge.

+ –+ Some matter has more positive particles than

negative particles. We say that the matter has a
positive charge. Likewise, if the matter has more
negative charges than positive charges, then it
negative
has a negative charge. If the number of positive
and negative charges are the same, the matter is
– – neutral, or has no electric charge.
+ +
– – – Evaluate Draw a picture of an object that is
neutral.
– +–

neutral

58 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

Attract or Repel
−−+ −
+−
When two objects with electric charge are close
− +
to one another, a force happens between them. If
+ −+ + ++
both objects have negative electric charges, the two
− − − −
objects repel, or push away, each other. The same + +
thing happens if both objects have a positive charge.
But if one object has a positive charge and the other
has a negative charge, each object attracts, or pulls
on, the other object. The push or pull of charged
objects on each other is an electric force.

Recognize Label the balloons to tell whether they

will attract or repel each other. Explain why you
labeled the balloons this way.

Model How would you model two charged objects attracting or

repelling each other? Draw your model. Use balls, ramps,
It! and springs in the design of your model.

Lesson 1 Electric Forces 59

Visual Literacy Connection

HOW DO
Electric Charges Move?
Electric charges move inside objects. The way they move depends
on the kind of material the object is made of. Some materials, such
as most metals, are conductors. In a conductor, electrical charges
can move easily. Other materials, such as a rubber balloon, are
insulators. In an insulator, electric charges cannot move easily.

–
+
+ Conductor – +
–
+
+ – –
+ + –
– + –
– +
–
Insulator
+

All materials are made up of charged particles. When the number

of positive charges and the number of negative charges are the
same, the material is neutral.

+ + + – – –

Neutral

60 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

 – +
– +
– – – + +
– + +
– – + +
– +
– +

In a conductor,
+ + such as a metal can,
– –
+ negative electrical –
charges can move
+ – –
+ easily.

On each can,
draw arrows to
– – show the motion + +
– – of the charges.
+
– + +

When a rod that is negatively When a rod that is positively

charged is close to a conductor, charged is close to a conductor,
the negative charges of the rod the negative charges of the
repel the negative charges of the conductor are attracted to the
conductor. An electric force causes positive charges of the rod. They
this motion. The positive charges move toward the rod. The positive
stay in place. charges stay in place.

– +
– +
– – – + +
– – + +
– + +
– +
– +

– In an insulator,
+ such as a balloon,
– + electric charges
+ cannot move easily.

+ – –
In the balloon on
the right, draw
– the location of
+ the charges after
the charged rod is
brought close.

Lesson 1 Electric Forces 61

 INTERACTIVITY

Complete an Moving Charges

activity about
electric charges.
Sometimes charges can transfer from a charged
object to another object—even if the two objects
do not touch. Static discharge is the transfer
u Be a Scientist of particles that have an electric charge between
Test Electric Charges objects that are not touching. For example, when
Sprinkle a small amount of you walk across some carpets, negatively charged
baby powder or other fine particles in the carpet move to your body. Your body
powder on a plate. Run
a plastic or rubber comb then has a negative electric charge. When your
through your hair several finger comes near a doorknob, the electric force
times. Hold the comb close
to the powder and observe between your finger and the doorknob causes static
what happens. discharge to occur. When a spark jumps between
your finger and a doorknob, a static discharge
has happened. A lightning strike is also a static
discharge, but it is much more powerful.

 Reading Check Sequence What is the sequence

that causes a static discharge when you touch a
doorknob?

Connection

Noncontact forces can cause objects to move

toward or away from one another. What
information do you need to predict which way
objects with electric charges will move?

62 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

Strength of Electric Force
Two factors affect how strong the electric forces
between objects are—the amount of electric ++ + + ++
+ +
charge the objects have and the distance between + + + +
the objects. Objects with a lot of electric charge
will have a greater electric force than objects with
less electric charge. The source, or cause, of the
force is the charge.

The strength of electric force becomes stronger

as electrically charged objects get closer to each
other. If the objects are farther apart, the force ++ + + + +
+ +
+ + + +
is weaker.

Analyze The arrows above the balloons show

the direction of the force on each balloon. Why
do you think that the arrows above the bottom
balloons are longer than the arrows above the top
balloons?

 Lesson 1 Check
1. Identify What are two ways that you can make the electric
forces between two objects stronger?

2. Predict A metal rod has a negative electric charge. What

will happen if the rod is placed close to a table tennis ball
that has a negative electric charge?

Lesson 1 Electric Forces 63

 Check-In

Changing the
c t r i c F o rc e
E l e
Compare electric forces and how they change when electric
charge or distance change.

1. U
 se arrows to show the electric force acting on each object
in these pairs. Show both strength and direction. Use longer
arrows to show greater force.

+ –
+ –

++ ++
+ ++ + ++
++ ++

+ +
+ +
–– ––
– –– – ––
–– ––
2. H
 ow did you decide which arrows should be longer and
which arrows should be shorter?

64 QUEST CHECK OFF

 S T E M Math Connection
3-PS2-3

Find Total Charge

You can find the total charge on an object by comparing the
number of positive charges and negative charges. An object
that has an equal number of both kinds of charge is neutral.
The total charge is zero.

A scientist adds charges to an object and records the data:

Before adding charges ++

−−
After adding charges ++++++

−−−

What is the total charge on the object after adding charges?

______positive charges (+) − ______negative charges (–) = _______

Next the scientist doubles the total of both positive and negative
charges. Complete the chart to show the change.

Before doubling charges ++++++

−−−
After doubling charges

What is the total charge on the object after adding charges?

______ positive charges − ______ negative charges = ______

STEM Math Connection 65

 Lesson 2

Magnetic Forces
I can… CURRICULUM Connection
Describe factors
Cows sometimes pick up small pieces of metal
that affect magnetic
forces between and swallow them along with their food.
objects. Sharp objects can poke through the wall of the
3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4, 3-5-ETS1-1
stomach and make the cow sick. Farmers often
Literacy Skill have their cows swallow a long, smooth magnet.
Sequence In the stomach, the magnet attracts those bits
Vocabulary of metal. Since the metal cannot move around
natural magnet much, a problem is less likely. The magnet can
permanent magnet
electromagnet protect the cow for many years.
magnetic pole
magnetic field Identify In the paragraph above, circle the
kinds of objects that stick to cow magnets.
Academic Vocabulary
interact
Magnets
 VIDEO A magnet is an object that attracts certain kinds
Watch a video about of metal. A magnet attracts most objects made
magnetic forces.
of iron or steel. Some kinds of rock are natural
magnets. A natural magnet is not made
magnetic by people. The largest natural magnet
on Earth is the planet itself.

66 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

STEM u Investigate Lab HANDS-ON LAB
3-PS2-3, SEP.1

How can you make a

U Materials

mag et? • magnet

• large metal paper
clip
Engineers use what they know about materials to help solve • small metal paper
clip
problems. How can an object become a magnet?

Develop a Solution Eng ineering Practice

1. Write a question about how to use the materials to Engineers solve
problems by
make a magnet.
designing and
developing
objects.

2. Make a plan to answer your question.

Include how you will test your solution.
Show your plan to your teacher before you
begin. Record your observations. Observations
Evaluate Your Solution
3. Identify What criteria did your solution meet?

4. Analyze Were you able to pick up the small

paper clip? Why or why not?

Lesson 2 Magnetic Forces 67

Visual Literacy Connection

How do people use

electromagnets?
Most magnets are permanent
magnets. Their magnetism
cannot be turned on and off.
Electromagnets are magnets 
that can be turned on and off
iron battery by an electric current. When the
nail current is on, the electromagnet
wire
attracts magnetic objects.
When the current is off, the
magnet turns off.

switch
1

Moving electric charges in the iron battery

wire cause the nail to become nail
a magnet. Compare the two wire
drawings and circle the part of
the device that changed.

switch

68 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

When the doorbell switch is on, the switch
battery
magnet turns on. What is the bar
connected to the hammer made of?

2 electromagnet
spring

bell bar
hammer

electromagnet

3
Sometimes it is very
helpful to be able to
turn a magnet on or off.

Make a drawing that shows

what will happen when this
magnet is turned off.

Lesson 2 Magnetic Forces 69

 INTERACTIVITY

Complete an activity Magnetic Poles

about magnetism.
Every magnet has a north magnetic pole and a
south magnetic pole. A magnetic pole is the
point where the magnetic force is strongest. Earth
is a large magnet with north and south poles.

Magnetic poles can interact. Objects interact

when they affect each other. The interaction
between two magnetic poles depends on the types
of poles. The poles can either attract or repel one
another. The north pole of one magnet will attract
the south pole of another magnet. Two poles of the
same type repel one another.

Compare How is the way that magnetic poles

interact similar to the way that electric charges
Crosscutting interact?
Concepts T lb x
Cause and Effect
Compasses use magnetism
to allow us to find our way
around Earth. Identify
the cause and effect
relationship that makes a
compass work.

Connection

How could the interaction of magnetic poles be

used to lift a box?

70 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

Magnetic Fields
A magnetic field is the space where the force of a
magnet acts. The shape of the magnetic field depends
on the shape of the magnet. You cannot see a magnetic
field. But you can observe its effects. Hold a piece of iron
close to a magnet. You will feel a pull. This pull is the
magnetic force. Next, move the piece of metal a little
closer to the magnet. The closer the metal gets to the
magnet, the stronger the pull will be. The strength of a The lines show the magnetic
field of the magnet. The lines
magnetic field changes with distance. It is strongest at are closer where the force is
the magnetic poles. The strength of the magnetic field stronger.

gets stronger as the objects move closer.

 Reading Check Sequence What happens if you

move a magnet closer to a piece of metal?

 Lesson 2 Check
1. Explain How can you use a magnet that has the north pole
labeled to find the north pole of another magnet that has
no marking?

2. Describe What is one factor that affects the strength of

magnetic forces between objects?

Lesson 2 Magnetic Forces 71

 Check-In
STEM Lab

How can magnets Materials

• battery
sort objects
?
• battery holder

by we i g h t • two pieces of
copper wire
• iron nail
• switch
• balance, gram
cubes, paper
Your device will need to identify objects that clips, staples,
coins
have less weight than others. How does the
weight of an object affect its interaction with
a magnet?

Define the Problem Eng ineering Practice

1. Define a problem that occurs when a magnet Engineers define
interacts with heavy objects. problems to find
solutions.

2. Make a plan to solve the problem. Use the materials.

Include how you will test your object. Draw the
design for your solution.

72 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

 HANDS-ON LAB
3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4, SEP.1
3. Show your plan to your teacher before you begin. Build
and test your device. Record your observations.

Observations

Evaluate Your Data

4. Evaluate Did your solution solve the problem? Explain.

5. Synthesize How could you use what you learned in this lab
to use a magnet to sort boxes by weight?

QUEST CHECK OFF 73

 3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4, 3-5-ETS1-3, SEP.3

Build

Moving Along
S
ome engineers design and build tools. These tools can be used in
many places, including factories. They can be small tools that people
carry with them. Or they can be much bigger. Steel factories use old
metal objects to make new steel. At a steel factory, big machines sort the
metal objects from other objects. Then machines move the metal to the
right place. These machines that sort use magnets to move metal objects.

74 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

Build It
You work for a factory owner. You must make a tool to move steel
objects from one place to another. The tool will pick up the steel
objects and then drop them in a different place. The steel objects
are mixed with other objects that are not made of steel. You will
use a magnet in your device. Use the materials provided to build
your tool.

Make a drawing that shows the design of your

tool. Write how you will test it. Show your
drawing to your teacher before you start.

Build and test your tool.

uEngineer It! Build STEM 75

 Findings  INTERACTIVITY

Complete an

Weigh to Go
activity to support
STEM your Quest
Findings.

How can you use magnets to

save time?

Design a Solution
Your device must separate heavy objects from lighter
objects. It must use a force acting at a distance. Use
what you learned in the Check-Ins to design the
process that the factory can use to separate packages
by weight. Write a step-by-step procedure to show how
your solution works.

Communicate Your Solution

Decide how you will present your solution to the
factory owner. Prepare your presentation. Explain
how you used magnetic force to solve an engineering
problem.

76 QUEST CHECK OFF

C areer
Connection
Systems Engineer
Systems engineers work on systems that have
many parts or actions. A system can include
machines, people, and computers. The parts
of the system work together to do something
that only one machine or person can do.

Systems engineers figure out how to make

the parts of the system work together. When
the system is not working, they figure out why.
The systems engineer has to understand all parts
of the system. These include how machines work
and how people use the machines. Many systems
engineers are also computer engineers. This is  Write About It
because so many systems use computers. In your science
notebook, write an
example of a system
that affects your life.
List some parts of the
system.

Quest Findings 77
 Assessment
1. Predict What will happen when 3. Use Diagrams This diagram
a particle with a negative electric shows what happens when a
charge is placed near a particle plastic rod with more negative
with a positive electric charge? charges is close to a metal plate.
A. The particle with the positive
charge will attract the
particle with the negative
charge.

B. The particle with the positive

Which statement is true based on
charge will repel the particle
the diagram?
with the negative charge.
A. The metal plate is an insulator.
C. The positive charge on the
particle will change into a B. The metal plate is a conductor.
negative charge. C. The metal plate has gained
D. No change will happen. negative charges.

D. The metal plate has gained

2. Explain How can an object
positive charges.
be neutral if it contains many
particles that have a negative 4. Vocabulary What happens
charge? during a static discharge?
A. The electric force between
objects gets stronger.

B. Neutral objects gain a

positive electric charge.

C. Particles with an electric

charge move between objects
that are not touching.

D. The number of charged

particles in an object
suddenly decreases.
78 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism
5. Evaluate a Plan Your friend
wants to use a magnet to hold
How can you solve a
the door of a playhouse closed.
problem using magnetic
The door and the post beside
forces?
the door are plastic. Will your Show What You Learned
friend’s plan work? How can you
How do magnetic forces cause a
make the plan better?
compass to work?

6. Use Evidence A student observes

that a magnet is attracted to
the door of a cabinet in the
classroom. What conclusion
can the student make from this
observation?
A. The cabinet is made of wood.

B. The cabinet is positively

charged.

C. The cabinet is made of steel.

D. The cabinet wall is a magnet.

Assessment 79
 Evidence-Based Assessment

A science group has 3 metal bars. One of the bars

S N
is a magnet with the north and south poles labeled
with the letters N and S. The ends of the other bars A B
were marked with the letters A and B on Bar 1 and Bar 1
the letters C and D on Bar 2.
C D
1. Evaluate The group investigated whether Bar 2 Bar 2
was a magnet. The only tool for the investigation was the
magnet with labeled ends. One group member thought that
they could decide by finding out whether Bar 2 and the
magnet would stick together. Would this test provide enough
data to decide whether Bar 2 is a magnet? Explain your
answer.

2. Define the Problem How can the students use observations

to decide whether a bar is a magnet?

3. Cause and Effect The north pole of the magnet and the
Bar 1 end labeled A were placed next to each other. The two
bars moved away from one another. What two conclusions
could the students make about Bar 1?

80 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

The students then compared how the ends of Bar 2 interacted
with the magnet. They brought different combinations of ends
together. Their observations are shown in the table.

Interaction of magnet and Bar 2

End of magnet C D

N attract attract

S attract attract

4. Evaluate What does the evidence on the table show about

the end marked with the letter C?
A. It is not part of a magnet.
B. It is the north pole of a magnet.
C. It is the south pole of a magnet.
D. It could be a north or a south pole of a magnet.

5. Cause and Effect What conclusion can the group make

based on the information in questions 3 and 4?
A. Bar 1 is a magnet, and Bar 2 is not a magnet.
B. Bar 2 is a magnet, and Bar 1 is not a magnet.
C. Both bars are magnets.
D. Both bars are not magnets.

Evidence-Based Assessment 81
 STEM u Demonstrate Lab

How can you Materials

use a force?
• plastic ruler
• tape

Suggested
Materials
Scientists ask questions to investigate forces. How can • copper wire
you use a force to move an object 15 centimeters without • battery
• magnets
touching it?
• iron nail

Plan Your Procedure •

•
paper clips
staples
1. Decide which force you want to use to move an
object. Write a question about the force you want to
investigate. Science Practice
Scientists
ask questions
that can be
investigated.

2. Write a procedure to answer your question. Show

your procedure to your teacher before you begin.

3. Follow your procedure. Make changes in the

procedure if it does not work the way you thought it
would. Record your observations.

82 Topic 2 Electricity and Magnetism

 HANDS-ON LAB
3-PS2-3, 3-PS2-4, 3-5-ETS1-1, SEP.1

Evaluate Your Design

4. Describe What force did you use
to move your object?
Observations

5. Analyze Explain why your

procedure did or did not work.

uDemonstrate Lab 83