Magnets and Magnetic Forces — Answers
Answer sheet with model answers and success criteria for the Year 7 forces & motion worksheet.
Success TutoringWorksheetsAnswer sheetYear 7 · Science · Forces & MotionMagnets and Magnetic Forces — Answers
Part A: How magnets work
Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.
A magnet can pull (attract) some materials towards it. Materials that magnets attract are called magnetic. Iron, nickel, cobalt and most kinds of steel (which is mostly iron) are magnetic. Most other materials, including most metals such as aluminium, copper, gold and silver, are not magnetic.
Every magnet has two ends called poles: a north pole and a south pole. The magnetic force is strongest at the poles. When two magnets are brought together, unlike poles attract (north and south pull together) and like poles repel (north and north, or south and south, push apart).
Magnetism is a non-contact force: a magnet can push or pull without touching. Its force can act through some materials, such as paper, cardboard, plastic and water. The force gets weaker as the magnet gets further away.
The Earth behaves like a giant magnet. A compass needle is a tiny magnet that is free to turn, so it lines up north–south. People have used compasses to find their way for hundreds of years.
- Aa steel paper clip
- Ba plastic ruler
- Ca wooden pencil
- Da rubber eraser
Answer: a steel paper clip
A steel paper clip contains iron, so it is magnetic. Plastic, wood and rubber are not.
- AThey attract.
- BThey repel (push apart).
- CNothing happens.
- DThey both lose their magnetism.
Answer: They repel (push apart).
Like poles repel. North pushes away north, and south pushes away south.
- AAll metals are magnetic.
- BNo metals are magnetic.
- CIron, nickel, cobalt and most kinds of steel are magnetic, but most other metals are not.
- DOnly gold is magnetic.
Answer: Iron, nickel, cobalt and most kinds of steel are magnetic, but most other metals are not.
Only a few metals are attracted to magnets. Aluminium, copper, gold and silver are not magnetic.
- AIt only works on contact lenses.
- BIt only works when the magnet is touching the object.
- CIt is a very weak force.
- DIt can push or pull an object without touching it.
Answer: It can push or pull an object without touching it.
A magnet can pull a paper clip towards it from a small distance away, without touching it.
- Aat the poles (the ends)
- Bin the exact middle
- Cit is the same everywhere
- Donly on its painted side
Answer: at the poles (the ends)
The pull of a bar magnet is strongest at its poles. More paper clips stick to the ends than to the middle.
Part B: Attract or repel?
- north and south
- north and north
- south and south
- attract
- repel
- repel
Answer: north and south → attract; north and north → repel; south and south → repel
Answer: cobalt
Most kinds of steel are magnetic too, because steel is mostly iron.
Answer: repel
Also accept: push away.
Answer: No. Aluminium is not a magnetic metal, so a magnet does not attract it.
Part C: True or false?
Write True or False.
Answer: False
Only a few metals, such as iron, nickel, cobalt and most kinds of steel, are magnetic. Aluminium and copper are not.
Answer: True
Magnetic force acts through paper, so the clip is still attracted.
Answer: True
The needle is magnetised, so it lines up north–south with the Earth's magnetism.
Answer: False
The force gets weaker with distance. That is why a magnet only picks up a paper clip when it is close.
Part D: Working scientifically: through the paper
You can try this at home with a fridge magnet, a paper clip and some paper. Keep magnets away from small children, who might swallow them.
Mia holds a fridge magnet under one sheet of paper and puts a steel paper clip on top. She lifts the paper and checks whether the clip stays in place as she moves the magnet. Then she adds more sheets of paper one at a time and tests again.
Answer: The number of sheets of paper between the magnet and the paper clip.
Answer: Whether the magnet still holds (attracts) the paper clip.
Answer: Any two of: the same magnet, the same paper clip, the same kind of paper, holding the magnet the same way, testing on the same surface.
Model answer: Magnetic force can act through paper, but the more sheets there are, the weaker the pull on the clip. The extra sheets push the magnet further away from the clip, and magnetic force gets weaker with distance. After enough sheets, the pull is too weak to hold the clip against gravity.
Success criteria:
- States that magnetism acts through paper but weakens as sheets are added
- Explains using distance: more sheets means the magnet is further away
- Mentions that the force becomes too weak to hold the clip
Marking tips
- Give credit for correct method even when the final answer slips — the working shows where the thinking went right.
- For open-ended tasks, use the success criteria as a checklist rather than looking for one "right" answer.
- Celebrate what went well first, then pick one thing to work on next.
Great work. Here's what to try next: