Attraction Reaction

In science class, you learned that a magnet attracts certain metals. Magnets attract objects that are made of iron and nickel. With a family member, you can use a magnet to help you find out which objects in your home contain iron or nickel.

Materials

• strong magnet
• paper
• pencil

Procedure

With an adult's help, gather objects from around your home. Ask an adult to help you fold your piece of paper in thirds—three equal columns. In the first column, list the objects you gathered. In the second column, predict whether the object will be attracted to the magnet.

One by one, hold the magnet near each of the objects. In the third column of your paper, record whether or not each object was attracted to the magnet.

Results

Compare your predictions with the results of your experiment. Were there any surprises? Based on your experiment, what objects in your home probably contain iron or nickel?