Probing fridge magnets

In this activity, students investigate the pattern of magnetic fields on a fridge magnet. This will give them an idea of the principle behind scanning probe and magnetic force microscopes.

By the end of this activity, students should be able to:

• briefly explain how a magnetic force microscope works

• understand that the probe in a magnetic force microscope senses changes in the magnetic structure of the surface at the atomic level

• create an image of the magnetic structure of a fridge magnet.

Download the Word file for:

• introduction/background notes

• what you need

• what to do

• student handout.