Magnet Experiments for Kids: Can a Magnet Work Through a Table?
By Ahmed, founder
Magnets are one of the best-loved topics in elementary science, mostly because they feel a little like magic. A good magnet investigation moves past “magnets stick to things” to real questions that can be measured.
1. Can a magnet work through a table?
Put a paper clip on top of a piece of paper. Hold a magnet underneath. Move the magnet and the clip follows. Now try through a stack of cards, a plastic lid, a book, a thin wooden board.
Count how many playing cards you can put between the magnet and the clip before the clip drops. That’s a measurement. Repeat with one, two and three stacked magnets.
What you learn: magnetic force passes through many materials, but it gets weaker with distance. More or stronger magnets reach farther.
Our lesson Can a magnet work through a table? turns this into a full investigation.
2. How far will a paper clip jump?
Lay a ruler on a table. Put a paper clip at the 0 end and mark the spot. Slide a magnet slowly along the ruler toward the clip. At the moment the clip jumps to the magnet, read the distance on the ruler.
Repeat five times, record each gap and find the typical distance. Then predict what will happen with two magnets stacked, and test your prediction. Does the clip jump from farther away?
What you learn: magnets pull from a distance. The pull is stronger close up and fades quickly as the gap grows. You’re measuring an invisible force by seeing where it starts to win.
The lesson How far will a paper clip jump? ends with a design challenge: build a magnet gadget that works without touching.
3. Which things are magnetic?
Collect coins, keys, foil, a spoon, a paper clip, a pencil, a rubber band. Predict first, then test.
Many people expect all metals to be magnetic. They aren’t. Iron, steel and nickel are attracted to magnets. Aluminium foil, copper wire and most coins (depending on the coin) are not. Some metal objects look similar and behave differently, so predictions make this fun.
Safety
Use ordinary ceramic or fridge magnets. Keep strong small magnets, such as rare-earth magnets, away from young children. If swallowed, they can be dangerous. Keep magnets away from phones, credit cards and screens.
Fair-test checks
- Use the same type of paper clip each time.
- Approach the clip at the same slow speed.
- Read the ruler from the same angle.
- Repeat at least three times.
Common mix-ups
- “Magnets only stick to metal.” Only some metals.
- “A bigger magnet always means stronger.” Material and shape matter too.
- “Magnets don’t work through things.” They do, to a point.
More to explore
All three are in the Pushes, Pulls and Magnets unit. Students who enjoy this can move on to Simple Circuits. Sign up for three lessons free.