Magnetic Basics FLEXCART

Students can discover the phenomena of magnetism through their hands-on interaction with the Magnetic Basics FLEXCART. There are several stations on the Magnetic Basics FLEXCART that allow users to interact with magnetism in many different ways and thereby uncover that magnetism is all around us. Students use a magnet to discern which materials are magnetic and therefore attracted to each other.

Hold down the button on the compass for students to activate the electricity! Students can then see the compass needle move in response to the electromagnetic field created. Next they can move a bar magnet under a fully self-contained acrylic box and watch as they cause the ferrofluid liquid to move in response. Learners can also experience the force of repulsion when they try to bring together two magnets that are oppositely charged. The experience on the Magnetic Basics FLEXCART will show that magnetism is a force to be reckoned with!

Magnetic Basics

STEM Concepts Learned From Use of Magnetic Basics FLEXCART: Grade Bands 3-5

Permanent Magnets and Ferromagnetic Materials: Permanent magnets are objects made of a material that creates its own magnetic field and ferromagnetic materials can be magnetized and are strongly attracted to magnets. Examples of this material are Iron, Cobalt and Nickel.

Repulsion and Attraction: Magnets have North and South Poles. The rule is opposites attract and same to same will cause repulsion between the poles.

Four Fundamental Forces: Gravitational (all things with mass are brought toward each other), Electromagnetic (physics of how electromagnetic force physically interacts with electrically charged particles), Strong Force (nuclear force that binds protons and neutrons together in the nuclei of an atom) and Weak Force (nuclear field strength is much less that the strong force).

Principles of Electromagnetism: Forces that cause the attraction and repulsion of electrically charged particles.

Exhibit Technology: Users of the Magnetic Basics STEM Interactive will be using exhibit technology to discover the basic principles of magnets and magnetic force. Through this interaction users will understand how models are replicas of larger objects and they will understand the use and limitations of such technology.

Vernier Technology: Vernier sensors and probes can be added as an accessory for the measurement of real-time data.

Engineering Concepts: Analyze data from similarities and differences between different magnets and create and design a stronger magnet from the previous prototype.

Calculations: Magnetic Force (Lorentz Law; electric + magnetic force), Repelling Force, and Magnetic Field Strength.

STEM Careers associated with the Magnetic Basics FLEXCART:

  • Electronics Engineer
  • Field Application Engineer
  • Valve Train Product Engineer
  • Magnetic Resonance Physicist
  • Gridded Ion Thruster Engineer
  • Product Development Engineer
  • Magnet Manufacturing Engineer
  • Sensing System Hardware Engineer
  • EMC Machine Certification Engineer
  • Power Electronics Engineer (SMPS)
  • Nondestructive Testing Engineer (NDT)
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging Technologist

Magnetic Basics FLEXCART Specs:

Mag Basics Specs

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

NGSS aligned curriculum for the Magnetic Basics FLEXCART is currently under development and will be available September of 2020.

Topic: Engineering Design:

Performance Expectations:
3-5-ETS1-1: Define a simple design problem reflecting a need or a want that includes specified criteria for success and constraints on materials, time, or cost.
3-5-ETS1-2: Generate and compare multiple possible solutions to a problem based on how well each is likely to meet the criteria and constraints of the problem.
3-5-ETS1-3: Plan and carry out fair tests in which variables are controlled and failure points are considered to identify aspects of a model or prototype that can be improved.

Topic: Forces and Interactions:

Performance Expectations:
3-PS2-1: Plan and conduct an investigation to provide evidence of the effects of balanced and unbalanced forces on the motion of an object.
3-PS2-3: Ask questions to determine cause and effect relationships of electric or magnetic interactions between two objects not in contact with each other.