Purpose: Magnets have long been the fascination
of science. This bi-week, Scientific AmeriKen will investigate whether
magnetism increases or decreases as the magnet is heated. Hypothesis: Magnets develop because free roaming
elections (Valence electrons) become
uniform on one side of the magnet, causing that side to become more negative,
leaving the other side more positive. When objects are heated the molecules
that make up the object gather more energy and therefore move more freely.
Scientific AmeriKen hypothesizes that because molecules more around
more freely, that it will make it possible for the positives and negatives
to more easily blend, and therefore the magnetism will decrease. Equipment: This experiment requires one
small magnet, paper clip, ruler, test tube, alcohol
burner, water, pen and paper, Safety glasses, and a test tube holder. Procedure: The first step is to place the paper
clip down alongside the ruler. Place the magnet 3 cm away (or 1 inch: see
figure 1) and start moving in closer until the paper clip flies towards
and attaches to the magnet. Record the length that this attraction occurred.
The next step is to place some water into the test tube. Then place the
magnet into the test tube and begin heating. After the water has been boiling
for 30 seconds, begin repeating step one. Because the magnet may be hot,
use the pen (if it is non-metallic) to push the magnet, record results.
figure 1
Results:
Length of attachment before magnet was
heated
.798 cm
Length of attachment after magnet was heated
.873 cm
Conclusion: Unfortunately, the hypothesis was
again proven wrong by the experimental data. Though the results could be
labeled as close to call, it is apparent that more experimentation would
be necessary, which is again unfortunate because the test tube broke due
to dropping. However, it is theorized that the reason that magnetism increased
as a result of heating could be that the heat increased the energy inside
the molecules which was used to free more electrons from the individual
molecules and thusly made the ends of the magnet more polar.
