School Improvement in Maryland

Using the State Curriculum: Science, Grade 4

Skills and Processes | Earth/Space | Life | Chemistry | Physics | Environmental

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Standard 5.0 Physics

Topic C. Electricity and Magnetism

Indicator 3. Cite evidence supporting that forces can act on objects without touching them.

Objective a. Investigate and describe the effect that two magnets have on each other.

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item

Magnets can be toys or tools to do work.

Explain how two magnets react when placed near each other. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • the properties of magnets

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_021.xml

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Selected Response Item

A student places one magnet above another magnet as shown below.

Why does the top magnet appear to float above the bottom magnet?

  1. The magnets are made of different material.
  2. The like poles of the magnets repel each other.
  3. The opposite poles of the magnets repel each other.
  4. The magnets have a different gravitational attraction.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_028.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

The drawing below is of three separate bar magnets. The north and south poles of each magnet are labeled.

Which arrangement shows that the three magnets would attract one another, end to end?





/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_032.xml

Correct Answer:
B

Selected Response Item

Use the information below to answer the following question.

Some rocks contain small amounts of iron. These rocks have magnetic properties. The iron particles act like tiny magnets that are attracted by the two oppositely charged magnetic poles of Earth.

Question Image

A student used two horseshoe magnets in an investigation.

Question Image

Why did the two magnets come together in Position 2?

  1. The like poles of the magnets were attracted to each other.
  2. The like poles of the magnets were repelled by each other.
  3. The opposite poles of the magnets attracted each other.
  4. The opposite poles of the magnets repelled each other.
/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_052.xml

Correct Answer:
C

Brief Constructed Response (BCR) Item

Use the information below to answer the following question.

Some rocks contain small amounts of iron. These rocks have magnetic properties. The iron particles act like tiny magnets that are attracted by the two oppositely charged magnetic poles of Earth.

Question Image

In an investigation, students constructed the pattern shown below using five flat circular magnets that were arranged on a wooden pole.

Question Image

Explain how the students used the properties of the magnets to construct this pattern. In your explanation, be sure to include

  • why some magnets are touching
  • why some magnets are not touching

Write your answer in the space provided.

/toolkit/vsc/assessment_items/msa_science_4_053.xml

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