You will need:
- A horseshoe magnet (find magnet supplies here)
- Modelling clay or dough
- A sharpened pencil
- A compass
- Optional – a smartphone with a compass app.
Push the end of a sharpened pencil into a lump of modelling clay or dough and stand it upright on a desk.
Carefully balance a horseshoe magnet on the tip of the sharpened pencil. The horseshoe magnet should be able to spin freely.
Bring a compass up to the base of the pencil. You should see that the horseshoe magnet has lined up with the same direction that the compass is facing. You’ve found Earth’s magnetic north pole!
You can double-check that compass is not being attracted to the horseshoe magnet by moving it away from the balancing compass you’ve made. If it the compass needle still points in the same northerly direction, you’re ok.
OPTIONAL – Use a compass app on a smartphone to instead of a traditional compass.
School science visits since 2004!
– Curriculum-linked & award-winning incursions.
– Over 40 primary & high school programs to choose from.
– Designed by experienced educators.
– Over 2 million students reached.
– Face to face incursions & online programs available.
– Early learning centre visits too!
Online courses for teachers & parents
– Help students learn how science really works
Get the Electricity & Magnetism Unit of Work here!
- How does electricity actually flow?
- What makes magnets become magnetic?
- Why is there electromagnetism and what does this tell us about electricity & magnetism?
- From series & parallel circuits to conductors & insulators, there’s a lot to explore & learn!
Includes cross-curricular teaching ideas, student quizzes, a sample marking rubric, scope & sequences & more.
What is going on?
The Earth’s outer core is constantly moving, whereby iron-rich molten rock swirls in large eddies. This swirling motion of iron-rich molten rock acts as a geodynamo, creating electric currents that produce the Earth’s magnetic field. This dynamic magnetic field extends out into space and is constantly moving due to motion of the outer core (as well as other interactions with sources of magnetism throughout the Earth’s interior and in the Earth’s atmosphere). As such, the magnetic north of the Earth is always moving and is not aligned with north on a map.
Your horseshoe magnet lined up with Earth’ magnetic north pole!
Variables to test
- Does the size of the horseshoe magnet matter?
- What if you vary how you suspend the magnet?
Create a Buzz!
Years 3 to 6
Maximum 30 students
Workshop or show (NSW & VIC)
60 or 90 minutes
Online Class Available
STEM Full Day Accelerator - Primary
Designed from real classroom experiences, this modular day helps you create consistently effective science learning that directly address the new curriculum with easily accessible and cost-effective materials.
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