Ashley made a paper boat and attached paperclips to the edges. In order to control her boat she used a horseshoe magnet. How is Ashley able to control her boat without touching it? A) The boat is moving with currents in the water. B) The boat is attracted to the magnet by the force of gravity. C) The boat is attracted to the magnet by the force of magnetism. D) Ashley would not be able to do this without touching the boat.
Physics · Middle School · Tue Nov 03 2020
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C) The boat is attracted to the magnet by the force of magnetism.
Using a horseshoe magnet, Ashley can control the paper boat without touching it by taking advantage of the magnetic force. The paperclips attached to the edges of the boat become temporary magnets when influenced by the magnetic field of the horseshoe magnet. As a result, the boat is attracted to or repelled by the magnet, allowing Ashley to control its movement without direct physical contact. This is an example of how magnetism can be used to manipulate objects from a distance.