Magnetic Filings
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Approach: One to one Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Magnetism
Resources: Perspex box filled with iron filings, bar magnet
608Kb
Questions/instructions:  

Give student the box of iron filings.

This is a box of iron filings.
Iron filings are little bits of metal.

[Click on graphic to enlarge.]


 
% responses
2007 ('03)
y4
y8
1. Explain what you think will happen if you put a magnet on the box of iron filings?
   
 
magnet will attract filings/ will cause filings to move
88 (92)
96 (98)
Give student the bar magnet.

2. What happens when you move the magnet around on the box?
Allow time for student to explore.

 
filings moved with magnet
94 (92)
95 (93)
Put the magnet on the table. Put the iron filings on top.

3. What has happened to the iron filings?
filings attracted to magnet
32 (33)
40 (35)
filings concentrated/stood up/were darker at ends of magnet
20 (17)
32 (28)
filings formed patterns/lined up around the magnet
5 (7)
17 (9)
4. Try to explain why you think this happened?
 
iron is magnetic (and is attracted to magnet)
26 (30)
33 (40)
effect is strongest at the ends/poles
6 (5)
18 (14)
particles/filings align with magnetic
field which curves between the poles
0 (0)
4 (2)

Total score:
5–8
4 (4)
10 (10)
4
17 (20)
34 (26)
3
34 (38)
35 (33)
2
36 (28)
18 (29)
0–1
9 (10)
3 (2)
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4


Year 8


Commentary:
This was another popular task, involving experimentation, observation and explanation. There was little change in performance between 2003 and 2007 for year 4 students and a minor improvement for year 8 students. Mäori students performed quite well at both year levels, as did year 8 Pasifika students (who equalled the performance of Pakeha students).