Magnetic or Non-magnetic? Worksheet

It's often tricky to find out if something is magnetic or not. Magnets are great to play with and to find out about forces but how do you go about finding out if something is magnetic?

In this worksheet you can test your knowledge on magnetism and also predict what you think is going to happen in a variety of different magnetic situations.

Magnets are so attractive!

Are all metals magnetic?

yes, all metals are magnetic

no, no metals are magnetic

no, only some metals are magnetic

Which of these pairs of metals are magnetic?

iron and steel

gold and silver

copper and bronze

Why can a magnet be used under a piece of paper to move a small steel ladybird which is sitting on top of the paper?

Magnetic ladybird

because the ladybird is magnetic but the paper is not

because the ladybird and the paper are both magnetic

because the paper is attracted to the magnet

Naughty Micky was playing in the garden and he tipped a bucket of screws and stones into the paddling pool. If his Mum used a magnet to try to get them out, what would happen?

it would pick up both the screws and the stones

it would pick up just the screws and not the stones

it would pick up just the stones but not the screws

it wouldn't pick up anything because magnetism doesn't work in water

How are magnets used in recycling centres?

Scrapyard

they separate metals from non-metals

they are used to remove rusty metals

they separate iron and steel from other materials

ANSWERS

Question 1

Here are pictures of different objects. Tick all of the ones you think are attracted to a magnet:

Metal paperclip Needle Pencil Scissors Plastic ruler

CORRECT ANSWER

paperclip
needle
scissors

EDDIE SAYS

You chose the metal ones, didn't you? That's nearly good enough, although as you'll learn only a few different metals are attracted to a magnet. CDs are aluminium inside a plastic sandwich, but aluminium isn't magnetic. Paperclips, needles and scissors are generally made of steel which is magnetic.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Which of these items are attracted to a magnet? (Tick all ones you think are right).

CORRECT ANSWER

steel knife
iron nail

EDDIE SAYS

Bit more difficult! It's not simply the metal ones ... the wooden spoon and plastic plate are not metals and so are not magnetic. Of the rest gold, aluminium and brass are metals but are not attracted to a magnet. Only things made of iron (and steel) and nickel are attracted.

ANSWERS

Question 3

Are all metals magnetic?

CORRECT ANSWER

no, only some metals are magnetic

EDDIE SAYS

Amazingly very few metals are magnetic! The obvious one is iron and also steel, which is about 98% iron. There's also nickel (all our newer 1p/2p coins are made of nickel coated in copper, so try putting a magnet near one!) and one you'll almost never hear of: cobalt.

ANSWERS

Question 4

Which of these pairs of metals are magnetic?

CORRECT ANSWER

iron and steel

EDDIE SAYS

Lots of people think metals like copper, aluminium and lead are magnetic, but ... they're not! It's iron and steel which are attracted to a magnet.

ANSWERS

Question 5

Why can a magnet be used under a piece of paper to move a small steel ladybird which is sitting on top of the paper?

Magnetic ladybird

CORRECT ANSWER

because the ladybird is magnetic but the paper is not

EDDIE SAYS

Magnetism is a force that can pass through non-magnetic materials, like paper. The thinner they are, the greater the magnetic force, so the ladybird will be moved easily by the magnet on the paper. It will often work through a table, but the magnet will need to be quite strong.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Naughty Micky was playing in the garden and he tipped a bucket of screws and stones into the paddling pool. If his Mum used a magnet to try to get them out, what would happen?

CORRECT ANSWER

it would pick up just the screws and not the stones

EDDIE SAYS

In fact magnetism works fine in water - limpet mines that are attached underneath ships to destroy them are magnetic. The magnet will only attract the screws and not the stones, which are not magnetic.

ANSWERS

Question 7

How are magnets used in recycling centres?

Scrapyard

CORRECT ANSWER

they separate iron and steel from other materials

EDDIE SAYS

Only the iron and steel items will be attracted to the giant magnet, so it is used to separate those out from the other stuff. They are then melted down to make new cans, cars, nails and so on.