Fields Act at a Distance
Aligned to MS-PS2-5 — Next Generation Science Standards.
What this lesson teaches
Magnetic, electric, and gravitational fields let objects exert forces on each other without touching. The field fills the space around an object and grows weaker with distance.
Worked examples
Example 1
Hold one magnet above another with like poles facing and the top magnet floats — the magnetic field pushes across an air gap, proving a force can act without any contact.
Example 2
A compass needle turns anywhere on Earth because the whole planet sits inside its own magnetic field.
Example 3
A field has direction as well as strength. Flip one magnet over and the float becomes a snap, with no change in distance.
Practice questions
- Conduct an investigation showing a magnet moving a paperclip through a sheet of paper.
- Evaluate a classmate's experimental design and suggest how to rule out hidden contact.
- Explain how iron filings arranged around a magnet provide evidence that a field exists.
Watch the lesson
Every lesson comes with a video taught in English and Spanish — the same video the QR code in the printed workbook opens.
▶ Watch this lessonEn español
Los Campos Actúan a Distancia
Los campos magnéticos, eléctricos y gravitatorios permiten que los objetos ejerzan fuerzas entre sí sin tocarse. El campo llena el espacio alrededor de un objeto y se debilita con la distancia.
Ejemplo 1: Sostén un imán sobre otro con polos iguales enfrentados y el imán de arriba flota — el campo magnético empuja a través de un espacio de aire, demostrando que una fuerza puede actuar sin ningún contacto.
Ejemplo 2: Una aguja de brújula gira en cualquier parte de la Tierra porque todo el planeta está dentro de su propio campo magnético.
Ejemplo 3: Un campo tiene dirección además de intensidad. Voltea un imán y la flotación se vuelve un jalón, sin cambiar la distancia.
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