Year 3 Science: Two poles on a magnet
Part of the Year 3 Science magnets chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Two poles on a magnet
A pole is one of the places on a magnet where its pulling is strongest. A bar magnet has two poles, one at each end.
Many magnets have their poles marked with the letters N and S. In our pictures, the N pole is red and the S pole is blue.
Most of the paper clips cling to the poles. Very few cling to the middle of the magnet.
Key ideas
- A bar magnet has two poles.
- The poles of a bar magnet are at its two ends.
- The pulling is strongest at the poles, where the paper clips cling.
- Many magnets mark their poles with the letters N and S.
Method. Think about the ends of a bar magnet.
- Look at the bar magnet. A bar magnet has a pole at each of its two ends.two ends
- Count the poles. One pole at each end makes two poles.1 + 1 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. The middle of the magnet is not a pole. ✓
Method. Look at the left end of the magnet.
- Count the clips. Three paper clips are stuck to the left-hand end.three clips
- Write the number. So three paper clips cling to the left end.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. Three clips cling to the left pole, and three to the right pole. ✓
Method. Think about where the poles are.
- Think about the ends. The poles of a bar magnet are at its two ends, not in the middle.ends
- Decide. So Ruby is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Most of the paper clips cling to the ends, not the middle. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: the middle of a bar magnet is not a pole. The poles are the two ends, where the pulling is strongest.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). With a grown-up, use a bar magnet and a small pile of paper clips. Dip one end of the magnet into the pile, and count the clips that stick. Repeat with the other end, and then with the middle of the magnet. Which part picks up the most clips? Keep magnets away from your mouth, and never let small children play with them.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Where did the most clips stick? How many poles does the magnet have?” Let your child find the poles by counting the clips at each part of the magnet.
Exercise 10D Two poles on a magnet
Method. Think about the ends of the magnet.
- Look at the magnet. A bar magnet has one pole at each end.one at each end
- Count them. So a bar magnet has two poles.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. Two poles, one at each end. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 10.4.
- Read the key idea. The poles of a bar magnet are at its two ends.at its two ends
- Write the answer. ends
Check. The middle is not a pole. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 10.4.
- Read the key idea. A bar magnet has two poles, one at each end.poles
- Write the answer. poles
Check. A pole is one of the two places where the pulling is strongest. ✓
Method. Look at the left end of the picture.
- Read the letter. The left end is red, and it is marked N.N
- Write the answer. N
Check. In our pictures, N is red. ✓
Method. Look at the right end of the picture.
- Read the letter. The right end is blue, and it is marked S.S
- Write the answer. S
Check. In our pictures, S is blue. ✓
Method. Count the clips at the right-hand end.
- Count. Three paper clips are stuck to the right-hand end.three clips
- Write the number. So three paper clips cling to the right-hand end.3
- Write the answer. 3
Check. The left end also has three clips. ✓
Method. Add the clips at the two ends.
- Read the two numbers. Three clips are at the left end, and three at the right end.3 and 3
- Add them. Three and three make six.3 + 3 = 6
- Write the answer. 6
Check. Check: 3 + 3 = 6. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 10.4.
- Read the key idea. The poles are at the two ends, not in the middle.at the two ends
- Write the answer. no
Check. Very few paper clips cling to the middle. ✓
Method. Read the section about the paper clips.
- Read the text. Most of the paper clips cling to the poles.the poles
- Write the answer. poles
Check. The poles are where the pulling is strongest. ✓
Method. Think about the two ends of the U.
- Count the ends. A horseshoe magnet has one pole at each end of the U.two ends
- Add them up. One pole and one pole make two poles.1 + 1 = 2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. A horseshoe magnet is still a magnet with two poles. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 10.4.
- Read the key idea. A bar magnet has two poles, one at each end.two poles
- Decide. So Priya is right, and Tom is not.Priya
- Write the answer. Priya
Check. Two poles, one at each end. ✓
Method. Think about the test.
- Think about the clips. Counting the clips stuck at each part shows where the pulling is strongest.count the clips
- Write one thing. For example, count the clips stuck at each end.at each end
- Write the answer. Accept any one of: the paper clips stuck at each part of the magnet; the paper clips stuck at the ends; the paper clips stuck in the middle.
Check. The part with the most clips is where the poles are. ✓
Method. Think about the paper clips.
- Think about where the clips stick. Most of the clips cling to the two ends of the magnet.at the ends
- Link it to the poles. So the poles are at the ends, where the pulling is strongest.the poles
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says the paper clips cling most strongly to the poles, at the ends of the magnet.
Check. The paper clips show where the pulling is strongest. ✓