PASCO
 
MAIN PROCEDURE
IIn this experiment, students will use a Magnetic Field Sensor to discover the characteristics of fields around magnetized materials.

    1. Hold a ring magnet about 20 cm from the end of the Magnetic Field Sensor.
    2. Click the Start button, then slowly move the magnet toward the sensor until the magnet just touches the snout of the sensor.



    3. Hold the magnet next to the snout for a second, then slowly move the magnet back to a position about 20 cm from the sensor. Data collection will automatically stop after 10 seconds.
    4. Flip the magnet around 180 degrees and repeat steps 1-3 for the same magnet.
    5. Repeat steps 1-4 for a bar magnet.
    6. Move all magnets at least 1 meter away from the sensor and place the end of an iron bar up against the Magnetic Field Sensor.
    7. Click Start, then pull the length of the bar along the sensor (see photo below). Data collection will automatically stop in 10 seconds.



    8. Next, place the bar magnet near one side of the iron bar for 10 seconds. Do not allow the magnet to physically touch the iron bar.



    9. Move the magnet at least 1 meter away from the sensor.
    10. Again, place the end of the iron bar up against the Magnetic Field Sensor.
    11. Click Start, then pull the length of the bar along the sensor as you did in step 7. Data collection will automatically stop after 10 seconds.
    12. Repeat steps 8-11, except actually place the bar magnet on the side of the iron bar for 10 seconds before measuring its magnetic field
    1. What does the shape of the magnetic field graph tell you about the relationship between the magnetic field and distance?
    2. How does the slope of the magnetic field graph change as you move the sensor relative to the magnet?
    3. What does this change in slope tell you about rate of change in magnetic field strength as you move relative to a magnet?
    4. How does the magnetic field graph change when a bar magnet is flipped 180 degrees? Explain.
    5. How was the magnetic field of the iron bar affected after holding a bar magnet near it?
    6. Explain how the magnet affected the magnetic field of the iron bar.
    7. At the atomic level, what makes an iron bar different from a permanent magnet?
    8. Is physical contact necessary for a magnetic field to influence another object? Explain.