Magnet science projects are some of the funnest and easiest experiments to do. So...
...have fun with this one!
Time - Give yourself about three or four days to do this one.
1. Several magnets
2. Lot's of paper clips
3. Graph paper
5. Crayons or colored pencils
7. Cardboard for display (order here from Amazon)
10. Computer (optional)
It's always important to ask questions. In magnet science projects it's even more important. So...
...let's ask some questions about magnets.
Here are some important questions to get you started. These aren't the most important questions, though. We'll ask that one later.
See if you can add to this list for this magnet experiment.
What do you think magnets are?
What do magnets do?
What shapes are magnets?
Can you think of any places you've seen magnets?
Try to answer these as best you can.
We ask the most important question for magnet science projects...
What shape magnet will pick up the most paper clips?
This is a good question because we can try it out on a table or on the floor to see what happens. But don't try it yet. We need to answer our important question first!
Let's do that now.
What do you think will happen?
Write it down on a piece of paper, or draw a picture of the magnet you think will work best. Don't change your answer until you see what the magnets do first.
Now it's time to get your stuff from the list above. Let's move to the next step.
Now comes the fun part...
...try out those magnets!
Use different shape magnets. Here are a few examples...
Try every one of them. Be fair though. Give each one a fair shake to pick up the most paper clips. You may want to use two plates, one as a "launch pad" and the other as a "runway" for your paper clips. Move as many clips from one plate to the other like this...
Don't forget to take lots of pictures of this part. Pictures show you did your own work.
Carefully count the number of paper clips each magnet carried. Write down the results on a piece of paper so that you can use what you've learned later.
...let's make the graph!
Draw pictures of the different shaped magnets at the bottom of the graph. Try to be as accurate as possible! On the right side write numbers 1 through 20 each number standing for that many paper clips. Your graph should look like this...
It's time to tell what you've noticed. Write a report about what you saw. There are important things all magnet science fair projects should have.
You should include...
1. What you guessed about the shapes of magnets.
2. What you did with the magnets.
3. Which magnets held the most paperclips.
4. If your guess was correct about the magnets.
Be careful to obey all the school rules for your science fair report. Three or four sentences will do if you weren't given how long it should be.
Now you get to make the display!
Carefully put three pieces of cardboard together so it looks like this...
If you want more information about displays for magnet science projects click here.
You can buy displays for magnet science projects at many retail stores as well. However you do it, make sure you follow science fair rules!
Now, on a piece of paper neatly write your important question and your guess. If you would like, type it. You might get style points!
Now, just like you did your important question, write (or type) your supply list on a separate piece of paper.
Paste your guess, supply list and report onto your display board along with any pictures you might have taken. Make sure you label each so the judges know what is what. Making sure everything looks good is important!
If you want to get some ideas for your display we have some examples for you. Just
click here for examples of experiment displays as well as helps for reports.
Try playing with some of the display ideas you see. You don't have to use the exact ones we use. Make them fun! Be creative!
And don't forget to name your project at the top of the display board. You may want to use your important question as the title. You may want to purchase stencils to make cutouts of letters. Or you may purchase already made letters at many retail stores.
Whatever you do, have fun!