Science at key stage 3    (Year 8)

• name materials that magnets attract
• make a record of uses of magnets

• state that magnets both attract and repel each other
• explain why attraction is not proof of magnetism
• describe, eg orally, their technique for deciding which bar was a magnet

• describe how they found out that magnetic materials block the action of magnetic fields

• describe how to magnetise a magnetic material
• design and use a method for measuring magnetic strength

• recognise that the Earth has a magnetic field, which attracts a freely pivoted magnet to line up with it

• identify that for magnets to point north to south, the suspension mechanism must be almost completely unaffected by other forces, eg friction, moving air
• use appropriate equipment

• recall the shape of the magnetic field line pattern around a bar magnet, eg strongest forces at the poles
• describe how the model of field lines shows that the field strength (magnetic force) falls as the distance from the magnet increases

• extend the model of magnetic field lines to represent the direction of the field
• present their predictions and observations diagrammatically

• show, by their responses, that they understand the key ideas and relationships between them

• identify the factors that affect the strength of an electromagnet
• make an electromagnet
• make appropriate measurements and present data in a suitable form to draw conclusions
• identify strengths and weaknesses in their own methods

• recall that electromagnets are used in a wide range of applications and show their understanding of electromagnetism through their report of how a device works

• draw the field pattern of an electromagnet made from a straight coil
• explain the effect of an iron core, using ideas of magnetising materials

• produce a set of succinct 'key facts' cards