Lets Think About...Magnets & Gravity
Activities:
5. Gravity Works On Everything in the World
Roll a ball on the ground and see how far the ball travels before it stops.
Take a ball and roll the ball down the playground slide.
The ball also rolls until it stops.
Now take a ball and roll it up the slide.
Watch as it stops and then rolls on back.
It is gravity that is pulling the ball back to earth.
6. Magnets Can Pull and Push
Use two bar magnets.
(Note: All bar magnets have a north pole and a south pole and most are marked by initials "n" and "s" or are color coded.)
"Unlike" poles always attract each other. (North-South)
"Alike" poles always repel each other.
Have children experiment with the two magnets.
They should try pushing "alike" poles together.
Have them pull "unlike" poles apart.
(Note: Do not drop magnets, because they will lose their magnetic strength.)
7. Some Magnets Are Strong Enough to Work Under Water
Make a fishing pole by using a piece of wood dowel.
Tie a strong magnet to the string.
Attach the string to the pole.
Cut small fish out of paper or plastic.
Attach a large paper clip to each fish.
Use a clear plastic shoe box filled with water as the lake.
Add the fish. Let's go fishing.
Magnets work through water.
