Force and Motion
Activity 1 – Magnets
Activity 1: Magnets
Introduction” Scientists are people who ask questions and then try and find out the answers. This is called research. Be a scientist and see what happens when you have some magnets.
Questions to ask:
- What will the magnet stick to?
- What will it not stick to?
- What happens when you try to put two magnets together?
- Will the magnetic force travel through the desk?
Activity 2: Static Electricity using balloons
Introduction:
Everything in the universe is made of electricity, including you.
There are two types of electrical charge, positive and negative.
Opposite charges attract and like charges repel.
Positive charge is not “good” and negative charge is not “bad”
You can thank Benjamin Franklin for those names.
The material that balloons are made of really likes negative charge.
If you rub a balloon on your hair (or woollen clothes) the balloon will take a small amount of negative electricity from your hair. As your hair started off with equal amounts of negative and positive charge, then your hair is now a little bit more positive and the balloon is a little bit more negative.
Scientists are people who ask questions and then try and find out the answers. This is called research. Be a scientist and see what you can do with a balloon that has been rubbed on your hair.
- What happens to your hair after it has been rubbed on the balloon?
- What will be attracted to the balloon? Can it stick to a wall?
- What will not be attracted to the balloon? What won’t it stick to? Is that the same or different from the magnets?
- What happens if you try and force two balloons together?
- Can you use a balloon to make a pop can move without touching the can?
