Magnetism

LA FISICA SPERIMENTA… L’INGLESE

MAGNETISM

A magnet is an object that attracts iron to itself. While it is quite simple to find out what magnets can do, it is quite difficult to explain what magnetism is. It is basically a physical phenomenon, much the same as gravity. Both are very useful forces. Few of our modern day inventions would be possible without magnetism. Magnets are basic to phones, radios, television sets, doorbells, electric motors, compasses, and numerous other inventions

GLOSSARY

Magnet – magnete, calamita iron – ferro itself – sé stesso

while – mentre quite – abbastanza basically – fondamentalmente

both – entrambi few – poche without – senza

doorbells – campanelli porte basic – fondamentali compasses – bussole

ACTIVITIES

1. Find in the passage the English equivalent of these Italian words:

oggetto ……… fenomeno ………

semplice ……… stesso ...………..

difficile ……… gravità ………

forza ……… giorno ………

utile ……… telefono ………

2. Answer the following questions:

a) What is a magnet?

b) What is magnetism?

c) In which devices is the magnetic phenomena used?

3. Write TRUE or FALSE for the following statements:

a) A magnet attracts iron to itself. ...

b) Magnetism isn’t a physical phenomena. ...

c) Magnetism and gravity are very useful forces. ...