Science Quick Quiz

Year 3 Forces and Magnets

Name: ___________________________________
Q1.

Date:____________

Magnets
Vicky has a magnet in her hand.
There are some objects in the box.

Vicky is going to find out which objects are attracted by her magnet.
Compare the table of results by putting ONE tick so show the correct result for each object.
One has been done for you.

is attached

is not attached

wooden pencil
steel safety pin
plastic bead
cardboard box
copper wire
2 marks

Q2.

Magnetic toy

(a)

Sam has a toy made of magnets and balls.

He tries to put different magnets

together.

Write N (North) or S (South) on each end of each magnet below to explain Sams
observations. Some have been done for you.
Sams observations
The ends of these magnets
push away from each other.

The ends of these magnets

pull together.

1 mark

(b)

The magnets attract the balls. Sam makes a tower using the magnets and the balls.
He wants to test how strong the tower is.
He puts a 100 g mass on the tower.
He adds masses until the tower falls apart onto a rubber mat.

Sam repeats his test with two different towers.

His results are shown in the table below.

Number of magnets in
each leg of the tower

Mass held before tower

falls apart (g)

1500

1000

700

Tick THREE boxes to show which variables Sam kept the same to make his test fair.

the size of each

magnet

the number of masses put

on each tower

the size of each ball

the number of balls in each

tower

the size of the rubber

mat

the number of magnets in

each tower
2 marks

(c)

Complete the graph by drawing the missing bar.

Use the results table to help you.

1 mark

(d)

Predict the mass that could be held by a tower with four magnets in each leg.
Use the results table to help you.

................................................................... g
1 mark

Q3.

Magnets
(a)

Callum and Izzy want to find out the force needed to pull different bar magnets apart

from a horseshoe magnet.

They set up the equipment as shown in the photo.

Callum pulls
forcemeter
and
horseshoe
magnet

Izzy holds bar

magnet still

horseshoe
magnet

forcemeter

Callum needs to measure the force as the magnets separate.

It is difficult. The forcemeter reading goes back to zero as soon as the magnets
separate.
Would the suggestions below help Callum get more reliable results? Write yes or no
after each suggestion.
Yes or no?
Take a practice measurement to find out
roughly when the magnets separate.

.....................

Pull the forcemeter very quickly.

.....................

Take the measurement three times.

.....................

Use a different horseshoe magnet each time.

.....................
2 marks

(b)

Callum measures the force using N as the unit of measurement.

What unit of measurement does N stand for?
.....................................................
1 mark

(c)

Callum and Izzy test more bar magnets. In the table they record the force needed to
pull each bar magnet apart from the horseshoe magnet.

Bar magnet
tested

Length of bar magnet

(cm)

Force needed to pull

magnets apart (N)

1.5

2.5

5.0

1.8

7.0

7.0

7.5

3.0

What was the length of the weakest bar magnet?

..................................................... cm
1 mark

(d)

Before the test, Callum made a prediction. He said, Longer magnets will need more
force to separate them from the horseshoe magnet.
The results do not support Callums prediction.
Describe how the results do not support Callums prediction.
.......................................................................................................................
........................................................................................................................
1 mark

(e)

Callum and Izzy think of different questions they could investigate.

Write true or false next to each question to show if the investigation would compare
how strong the magnets are.
True or false?
How many layers of paper will stop each magnet
attracting a pin?
How many types of materials will the magnets attract?
How many paperclips will each magnet hold?

...................
...................
...................
1 mark

Q4.

At the swimming pool

(a)

Ian is at the swimming pool. He notices that the floor tiles around the pool have a
rough surface.

Why are tiles with a rough surface safer than tiles with a smooth surface for people
with wet feet?
......................................................................................................................
......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(b)

Ian floats on the water.

Why does Ian float on the water even though gravity is pulling him down?
......................................................................................................................
1 mark

(c)

As part of a test, Ian swims across the pool wearing his clothes.
How are the forces different when he swims in his clothes compared with when he
swims in his swimming costume?
Tick TWO boxes.

There is more weight.

There is more friction.

There is less weight.

There is less friction.

1 mark

Q5.

Measuring forces
(a)

Lizzie uses a forcemeter.

She measures the force needed to start a brick moving on different surfaces.

Here are her results.

Surface

Pulling force
(Newtons)

19

30

16

Write A, B, C or D in each box below to put the surfaces in order of force needed to
start the brick moving.

easiest surface
to pull the brick
on

hardest surface
to pull the brick
on
1 mark

(b)

Lizzie uses the forcemeter to pull the brick on a table top.

She spreads a spoonful of oil on the table top.
She puts the brick on the oil.
What happens when she tries pulling the brick on the oil?

Tick ONE box.

The brick moves more easily.

The brick is harder to move.

The brick will not move.

The brick floats.

1 mark

(c)

The diagram below shows three forces acting on the brick as it is pulled
on each surface.

Force B makes it hard to start the brick moving.

Write the name of Force B below.
.....................................................
1 mark

Assessment Summary
Total Mark
/21
Below Expectations
Below 7 marks
Expectations
Between 7-15 marks
Above Expectations
Above 15 marks