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Unit 1: Mechanics Page 21
Activities, Experiments, Projects
Lesson 1: Forces
Note: This section is an abbreviated overview of the experiments online.
Experiment: Detecting the sticks to the fridge! But wait a
Magnetic Field minute, if you put it on the wall… it
falls off! How does it “know” what
Remember, there are four different to stick to? Not only does it stick to
kinds of forces: strong nuclear the fridge, it also pushes some
force, electromagnetism, weak things away, attracts other things
nuclear force, and gravity. There and couldn’t care less about still
are also four basic force fields that other things. What’s that all
you come into contact with all the about?! We rarely think about what
time. They are the gravitational magnets do but, wow, the things
field, the electric field, the they do are weird!
magnetic field, and the
electromagnetic field. Notice that
those four force fields really only Magnetic fields come from objects
use two of the four different kinds that have a surplus of electrons all
of force: electromagnetism and moving in the same direction. This
gravity. Let’s take a quick look at can be an electric wire with current
what causes these four fields and running through it or one of
what kind of objects they can several special types of metals.
affect, starting with the magnetic Iron, nickel and cobalt are the
field. most common metals that can be
magnetic. Magnetic fields can only
You’re probably fairly familiar with affect objects that can be magnetic
magnetic fields. If you’ve ever themselves. That’s why a magnet
stuck a magnet to a refrigerator, can attract an iron nail, but it can’t
you’ve taken advantage of attract an aluminum can. The iron
magnetic fields. Sticking a magnet nail can be magnetic, but the
to a refrigerator is one of those aluminum cannot. Magnets can
every day experiences that should also be attractive or repulsive. Two
just be absolutely flabbergasting. magnets with the same kind of
There you are holding an “I’d poles facing one another will push
Rather be Relative” magnet and it themselves apart. Two magnets
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