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Using magnetism as a tool to classify and separate different types of matter.
Imagine you accidentally dropped a box of tiny iron pins into a sandbox. Instead of picking them up one by one with your fingers, what if you could use a 'magic' force to pull them all out at once?
Everything around us is made of matter, but not all matter behaves the same way! Some objects have a special property called magnetism. A magnet is an object that creates an invisible area of pull around itself. When a magnet gets close to certain materials, it can attract them, which means it pulls them closer. We can use this invisible pull as a tool to sort through piles of stuff. If we have a mixture of different things, the magnet will only grab the items that are magnetic, leaving the rest behind. This makes magnets one of the fastest ways to clean up or organize metal parts!
Suppose you have a bowl containing steel paperclip and plastic LEGO brick. 1. Hold a magnet near the bowl. 2. Move the magnet over both items. 3. The magnet will 'stick' to the steel paperclip and lift it up. 4. The plastic brick stays in the bowl because it is not magnetic.
Quick Check
What word do scientists use when a magnet pulls an object toward it?
Answer
Attract
You might think magnets pull on all metals, but that is a 'magnetic myth!' Magnets are actually very picky. They do not attract gold, silver, or aluminum. Most magnets are looking for one specific ingredient: iron. If an object is made of iron (or a metal called steel, which is mostly iron), the magnet will grab it. Materials that are not pulled by magnets are called non-magnetic. This includes things like wood, plastic, glass, and even some metals like the copper in a penny. Knowing this helps scientists identify what an object is made of without even touching it!
You find two silver-colored spoons. One is made of aluminum and one is made of steel (which contains iron). 1. Touch the magnet to the aluminum spoon. Result: Nothing happens. 2. Touch the magnet to the steel spoon. Result: The spoon sticks to the magnet. 3. Conclusion: The steel spoon is magnetic because it contains iron.
Quick Check
Which specific metal is found in almost all magnetic objects?
Answer
Iron
In the real world, sorting isn't just for fun—it's a big job! Recycling centers use giant, powerful magnets to separate trash. Imagine a conveyor belt moving thousands of pounds of garbage. A huge magnet hangs over the belt. As the trash passes under it, all the iron and steel cans fly up and stick to the magnet, while the plastic bottles and paper stay on the belt. This is a perfect example of using a physical property (magnetism) to classify and organize matter into different groups.
You are given a jar filled with sand, iron filings (tiny bits of iron), and wood chips. How do you separate them? 1. Use a magnet first: It will pull all the iron filings out of the jar. 2. Add water to the remaining sand and wood: The wood chips will float to the top. 3. The sand will stay at the bottom. You have successfully sorted three types of matter!
If a magnet pulls a nail toward it, the nail is most likely made of:
Which of these is a 'non-magnetic' material?
True or False: A magnet will attract a gold ring because all metals are magnetic.
Review Tomorrow
Tomorrow morning, look around your kitchen and try to name one thing that is magnetic and one thing that is non-magnetic.
Practice Activity
Find a refrigerator magnet and test five different items in your house. Create a 'Magnetic' and 'Non-Magnetic' chart to record your results!