CONNECT

There are various types of forces on Earth that we experience everyday! For example, imagine that you are preparing a meal. First, you apply a force to the refrigerator handle and pull it towards you to see what ingredients you have available for your tasty treat! Once you have gathered your selected ingredients, you apply another force to the refrigerator handle to push it closed, in order to keep the rest of the perishables fresh for your next meal! In this example, you were directly involved in the cause of the motion of the refrigerator handle, through the physical application of pushes and pulls on the handle. However, the cause and effects of other types of forces do not involve physical contact. Think back to the refrigerator you use when prepping your meals. The magnets “sticking” to your refrigerator door are examples of a magnetic force, attracting the magnet to the materials making up the refrigerator door. Magnetic forces act at a distance and can be both attractive and repulsive; therefore either pulling objects closer or pushing objects away through the interaction of magnetic fields. Although magnetic fields can be difficult to see, their effects on magnetic objects are evident. In this lesson, students will collect and analyze data to explain how magnetic forces can be attractive or repulsive and vary in strength.