Question

The student thinks that two magnets on top of each other will produce a

magnetic field that is stronger than the magnetic field from a single magnet.
The student has a metre rule and more magnets available.
Describe how the student could develop this investigation to test this theory.

Answer 1

To investigate whether two magnets on top of each other produce a stronger magnetic field, the student can perform an experiment with bar magnets and iron filings.

Step-by-step explanation:

To investigate whether two magnets on top of each other produce a stronger magnetic field than a single magnet, the student can perform the following experiment:

1. Take two bar magnets and place them a short distance apart, so they repel each other.
2. Place a sheet of white paper over the bar magnets and sprinkle some iron filings onto the paper.
3. Give the paper a shake to evenly distribute the iron filings.
4. In your workbook, draw both the bar magnets and the pattern formed by the iron filings.
5. Repeat the procedure for two bar magnets attracting each other and draw the pattern formed by the iron filings again.
6. Make a note of the shape, size, and direction of the iron filings' lines for both arrangements of the bar magnet.
7. Finally, place both bar magnets side by side and observe the pattern formed by the iron filings.

This investigation will help the student determine whether two magnets on top of each other produce a stronger magnetic field compared to a single magnet based on the patterns formed by the iron filings.

Answer 2

People have been aware of magnets and magnetism for thousands of years. The earliest records date back to ancient times, particularly in the region of Asia Minor called Magnesia-the name of this region is the source of words like magnet. Magnetic rocks found in Magnesia, which is now part of western Turkey, stimulated interest during ancient times. When humans first discovered magnetic rocks, they likely found that certain parts of these rocks attracted bits of iron or other magnetic rocks more strongly than other parts. These areas are called the poles of a magnet. A magnetic pole is the part of a magnet that exerts the strongest force on other magnets or magnetic material, such as iron. For example, the poles of the bar magnet shown in Figure 20.2 are where the paper clips are concentrated.