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Magnet science projects

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There are many magnet science projects that can be done. Magnets are such fascinating things and are used in so many places that we could spend the entire year looking at magnets!

But let us think about the biggest magnet we know – the earth. Because it is a magnet we can use it to help us find our way around.

In the old days sailors used to use it to make sure they found their way to where they were going and if you are a Scout or Girl Guide you will be taught how to use the earth to find your way around. What am I talking about – a compass of course!



A compass is just another magnet that lines itself up with the magnetic field of the earth.

Captain Jack Sparrow used one in Pirates of the Caribean (except his didn't use the earth's magnetic field!). But in this project we are going to make a real compass! Maybe if Jack Sparrow had done some magnet science projects he would have had a compass that worked!

Let's do science...

The project – step by step

The Question
Can an ordinary sewing needle be used to make a compass?

The Hypothesis
By magnetizing (making into a magnet) a sewing needle, it can be used as a compass.

The Experiments

  • Point me in the right direction, please.

     Why these experiments?
    By doing this experiment, in which you make a compass using a sewing needle, you will find out how compasses work and discover for yourself that the earth acts as one big magnet.

    The Conclusion
    By magnetizing a sewing needle and allowing it to move freely, it lines itself up with the magnetic field of the earth and becomes a compass.

    “Beef up your project” facts

  • Bar magnets have a north and south pole, just like the earth does. A bar magnet, if hung loosley, will always point it's north pole towards the north pole of the earth (and obviously the south pole of the magnet will point to the south pole of the earth).
  • If you see a huge boulder on a mountainside, how can you tell if it has moved or not since it was first formed? Well, certain rocks which have iron in them, have particles in them that will line up with the magnetic field of the earth. If these are not lined up along the north-south line, it means that the rock has been moved.

    Look it up

    Although compasses are still used to find out where you are going, there is something new that has been invented to tell you where on earth you are. Together with this new thing and the compass, it is very difficult to get lost on earth.

    See if you can figure out what I am talking about and try and find some information on how these new things work. (HINT: it has something to do with the fact that man has figured out how to get into space and put up satellites!)



    Did you enjoy this project? Check out another one of Good-Science-Fair-Projects.com's magnet science projects.

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