Conducting More Experiments!

Jan 4, 2017
1 min read

After spending two weeks conducting our first set of tests in determining the strongest magnet, students realized that there wasn't one answer. Students were tied between the wide bar magnet and the wand magnet. They found that their lack of certainty only left room for more questions. With that in mind we decided to develop a second test using the following materials:

1 paper clip
4 magnets
1 ruler
1 data sheet
masking tape

Students shared their ideas and then determined which experiment idea would have the least room for error. Students taped the ruler to a table and placed a paper clip at the 0 cm mark and a magnet at the 15 cm mark. They gently pushed the magnet towards the paperclip to see at what distance the paperclip would be attracted towards the magnet. The recorded 5 trials for each magnet and then used the data to determine which magnet was the strongest.

Take a peek at their experiment, set up and data below!