Process

You and your partner have been assigned to work together as a research team. Before you begin, you 
will need the following materials:
your research journal
pencil

Reminder: click the "back" arrow to return to the webquest after you visit each site.

Step 1: Safety
Scientists must always be concerned with safety first! Magnets and electricity are both very powerful 
forces -  they can be very useful, but they need to be handled with care or they can be very 
dangerous and harmful.  Visit these web sites and write ten important safety rules about magnets 
and electricity that you have learned in your research journal.  



Safety with Electricity


Safety with Magnets

Step 2: Reviewing Magnets
Let’s review what we’ve learned about magnets! Click on the links below and answer the following 
questions in your research journal.

What are the two poles of a magnet called?
What happens to the two poles if you break a magnet in half?
What are two types of magnets?
What is the rule of magnetism?


http://my.execpc.com/~rhoadley/magencyc.htm


http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0859426.html


http://www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca/english/schoolzone/Info_Magnets.cfm


http://www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Palms/8423/what.htm


http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/magnetism.htm

Step 3: Electromagnets
Click on the links below and answer the following questions in your research journal:

What are electromagnets?
How does an electromagnet work?
What are some of the many uses of electromagnets?


http://www.wcsscience.com/magnet/making/amagnet.html


http://science.howstuffworks.com/electromagnet.htm


http://home.howstuffworks.com/doorbell.htm


http://www.schoolscience.co.uk/content/4/physics/copper/copch3pg1.html


http://www.scitoys.com/scitoys/scitoys/electro/electro3.html#two_coil


http://www.sony.net/Fun/DigitalDream/headphone/topic01.swf


http://ksnn.larc.nasa.gov/webtext.cfm?unit=electromagnet


http://www.school-for-champions.com/science/electromagnetic_devices.htm


http://www.howstuffworks.com/mri.htm

Step 4: Reflection
Review your notes from your research journal and reflect on what you have learned about 
electromagnets.  Imagine if we didn’t have electromagnets.  Discuss with your research partner how 
you think our lives would be different.  Should electromagents be destroyed or are they too 
important?
Create a Powerpoint presentation for the SSI explaining your research and conclusions.  
Oral Presentations must 3-5 minutes long, involve both research partners, and include at least five 
slides. Please refer to the Evaluation page for more information and a rubric for your project.