A student is investigating magnetic fields. The student places four different objects near identical magnets and observes what happens. The student records her observations in the table below.

Question

A student is investigating magnetic fields. The student places four different objects near identical magnets and observes what happens. The student records her observations in the table below.

Using data from the table, which argument can the student make about magnetic fields?

a
The effect that a magnetic field has on an object depends on the mass of the object.
b
The effect that a magnetic field has on an object depends on the material of the object.
c
The effect that a magnetic field has on an object depends on the type of magnet used.
d
The effect that a magnetic field has on an object depends on the distance to the object.
Question 22

Answer 1

Based on the data in the table, the argument that can be made about magnetic fields is that their effect on an object depends on the material of the object (option b). The table shows that the paperclip, steel nail, and iron nail are all attracted to the magnet, while the aluminum foil is not. This suggests that the material of the object is a determining factor in how it is affected by a magnetic field. The mass, type of magnet used, and distance to the object also may affect the strength or distance of the magnetic attraction, but the material is the most significant factor in this case.