This lesson requires one magnet, metal and non-metal test objects.
These are included in the kit. The book and iron filings (also in kit) are optional.
What sticks to magnets? Do all metals stick to magnets?
Students test these questions for themselves. In the process, they name and identify common metals.
The metals that make permanent magnets are explored: iron, cobalt and nickel as well as rare-earth alloys.

You will also need a clean flat area
to do the projects: or or Magnets are mysterious! You can stick letters and notes to a refrigerator without tape. You can pick up all sorts of objects without touching them! Put the plastic square
of iron filing over the
picture of Hairless Harry.

Use paper clips to hold
the plastic square
of the iron filings
in place. Use a ring magnet to give Hairless Harry a hairdo. Hairless Harry
wants some hair! 1 2 Do you know what sticks to magnets? TEST IT! Find these
items
in you kit
and nearby. Test what sticks. What sticks to magnets? What does not? Non-metal objects DO NOT stick. Separate the things that stick from the things that do not. Do ALL metals
stick to magnets? TEST IT! and test what sticks. Find metal objects Do all metals
stick to magnets? NO! Only special metals
stick to magnets. Magnets are picky, very very picky. Everything that stuck to your magnet was made with IRON! R I N O There was iron in the bottle cap the nail the paper fastener and the paper clip BY GOLLY An IRON
Detector! Yes, that's right.

With a magnet you can test if a metal object is made with IRON. WAIT! Before you start testing -- Are there things that might be damaged by a magnet Click for answer. Credit Cards and
Bank Cards! Do all metal
cans stick
to a magnet? Do all metal spoons stick
to a magnet? Does a U.S. nickel stick
to a magnet? Test it! NO! Some are made
with stainless steel,
a form of iron. Others
are made of aluminum. NO! Some are made
with stainless steel,
a form or iron. Others
are made of aluminum. NO! Nickel IS
a metal that will
stick to a magnet
BUT it is mixed
with copper in the
nickel. In this form it doesn't stick. Go to the
next slide
to find out! How could you use a magnet
to separate aluminum cans
from steel cans Click on the red
question marks
for answers. Sorting Recycled Cans The last wheel on the conveyor belt
is magnetic. Click on Electra below. A Conveyer Belt That Sorts Cans Pennies do not stick to magnets.
So they are NOT made of IRON.

What IS a copper penny made of anyway Old copper pennies WERE mostly COPPER. Since 1982 pennies are mostly ZINC! WHY Copper became TOO expensive to put into a penny! Aluminum foil does not stick to magnets.
Neither does an aluminum pan.

What metal is in these objects Aluminum!
Of course! What about the brass paper fastener? It certainly does not LOOK like iron or steel.

Yet it sticks to a magnet. WHY The fastener has a brass COATING
made with copper and zinc.
Magnets do not stick
to either of these metals.

INSIDE the fastener IS made of IRON.
The magnet DOES stick to iron. Are gold or silver jewelry or serving pieces attracted to magnets NO! Gold and silver are metals but they do not stick to magnets.
What about those super powerful magnets? These are a special
mixture or alloy
of neodymium, iron and boron. These rare-earth magnets are incredible! metals can be made into permanent magnets.
These include: and most of their alloys,
and some forms of rare-earth metals. Ferromagnetic iron cobalt nickel Which of these objects
are ferromagnetic? Click on the objects for answers.