Some students begin to think of magnets ‘pulling on’ objects and to be aware of action at a distance
Misconception
Resources to Address This
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The Magnetic Force and the Magnetic Field (11-14)
To help solidify the idea of magnetism as a force which acts at a distance, you can use this activity to introduce the idea of a magnetic field as a region of space where forces are exerted.
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Magnetic fields (14-16)
The magnetic field fills the space around a magnet, establishing a region within which the magnet will attract or repel another magnet. This activity explores some of the issues students have with this idea.
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Magnetic shielding (11-16)
At a low level, this activity can simply serve to emphasize the difference between magnetic and non-magnetic materials, and the idea that forces can act at a distance, even through other objects (such as plastic).
References
- Selman, R. L., Krupa, M. P., Stone, C. R. and Jaquette, D. S. () Concrete Operational Thought and the Emergence of the Concept of Unseen Force in Children’s Theories of Electromagnetism and Gravity. Science Education, 66 (2), 181-194.
- Finley, F. N. () Evaluating instruction: The complementary use of clinical interviews. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 23 (17), 635-650.