Magnetism Concepts
Initial perceptual naive misconceptions (any age)
Misconceptions
- Magnets only attract
- Magnets repel non metals
- Magnets stick to everything. Magnets attract to all metals. Stick to anything metal.
- Magnets are made of plastic.
- Magnets only attract to iron
- The larger the magnet the stronger the pull
- Magnetism is like iron filings
- Magnetic fields are two dimensional like the pictures in the book.
- Only magnets have magnetic fields.
- Magnetism causes the objects to attract and repel.
- Larger magnets are stronger.
- Magnetism is magic.
- Magnetic poles = n and s pole.
- Magnetism doesn't go through objects.
- Magnetism will be blocked by materials that are insulators.
Beginning (preschool - 7 years)
Concepts
- Possible prior knowledge to Kindergarten - Magnets attracted to metal - refrigerator magnet, metal shavings, magnet doodle, Thomas The Train, various magnets, magnetic calendar.
- Magnets interact with each other and certain kinds of materials.
Intermediate (7 years - 11 years)
Concepts
- Like poles repel. Unlike poles attract.
- The Earth has magnetic poles.
- Magnets interact with iron, nickel, and cobalt.
Literate (11+)
Concepts
- Electricity and magnetism can exert a force on each other.
- Magnets interact with iron, cobalt, nickel (metal).
- Force of magnet is not dependent on its size.
- Earth has magnetic poles - north and south .
- Like poles repel.
- Opposite poles attract.
- Electricity and magnetism interact.
- If a compass breaks or a magnet is broken in half, you have two magnets, each with poles.
- Computer disk data can be erased with a magnet.
Dr. Robert Sweetland's notes
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