Toia Mai

Pa Mai with Miss D.

Magnet Experiment

Question: How are magnets affected by other magnets?

Hypothesis: We think the magnets on the floor will move when we swing the round magnet above them.

Equipment: 4 rectangular magnets, 1 round magnet with a hole in the middle, string, paper. 

Method: Place the 4 magnets on the floor. Place the paper on top of the magnets. Tie the string onto the round magnet. Swing the round magnet above the magnets on the floor like a pendulum.

Results: When we swung the round magnet above the magnets on the floor, the first time, it just swung backwards and forwards. When we swung the magnet closer to the other magnets, the round magnet was pulled in different directions.

Conclusion: When the round magnet was swung close to the magnets on the floor it was attracted towards the magnets which made it swing in different directions.

Friction Experiment

Question: Will the marble chariot go further on the carpet or on the lino?

Hypothesis: We think it will go further on the lino.

Equipment: 2 small cardboard boxes with 4 marbles each.

Method: Sit the cardboard boxes on top of the marbles. 2 children push the boxes to see which one goes further on the carpet then on the lino.

Results: The marble chariots went further on the lino.

Conclusion: The marble chariots went further on the lino because it is smoother than the carpet so there was less friction.

Air Pressure experiment

Question: How does air pressure affect things?

Hypothesis: Air pressure will not stop the ruler going up when we hit it.

Equipment: 1 sheet of A3 paper. 1 ruler.

Method:  Place the ruler on a table with about 2 cm sticking out of the edge of the table. Place a sheet of A3 paper over the ruler. Smooth the paper so it sits flat on the ruler and the table. Hit the edge of the ruler.

Results: The ruler did not fly up when we hit it. It only moved a little bit. It felt like it was stuck under the paper.

 Conclusion:  Our hypothesis was wrong. The ruler did not fly up when we hit it because the air pressure on top of the paper stopped any air getting under the paper. Because no air could get under the paper the ruler could not move up when we hit it.