AQA P15 Magnets and Electromagnets

This is designed as the first lesson in the AQA P15 Electromagnetism topic. It is a practical lesson where the students carry out a range of investigations in order to find out about the properties of magnets. Equipment needed for the students: bar magnets; thread; plotting compasses; wooden clamp stands (if available) and paperclips. Equipment needed for the teacher to demo: OHP; iron filings; electromagnet.

The three investigations are clearly explained and then there is a slide of differentiated questions. The final slides are images that may be useful in a class discussion about magnetic fields if an OHP is not available.