Indiana Science HS-PSII-6.5

ScienceGrades 9–12Physical Science

The Standard

Describe the practical uses of magnetism in motors, electronic devices, mass spectroscopy, MRIs, and other applications.

Indiana Academic Standards for Science (2023) · Magnetism

Teacher's field guide

What Students Need to Do: Students explain how magnets are used in motors, speakers, MRIs, and mass spectrometers. They connect each use to a result, such as turning a shaft, making sound, imaging tissue, or sorting ions.
What Mastery Looks Like: Given a device diagram, a student can point to where magnetism does its work. They explain how magnetic forces turn a motor, move a speaker cone, align hydrogen nuclei for an MRI, or bend ions in a mass spectrometer.
Common Misconceptions: Students may think a magnet alone powers a motor, without electric current. They may think an MRI uses X-rays or that a mass spectrometer sorts uncharged atoms with magnets.
How to Assess It: Exit ticket: Match motor, speaker, MRI, and mass spectrometer to turning a shaft, moving a cone, aligning hydrogen nuclei, and bending ions. Explain one match in a sentence.

Lesson moves

Wrap insulated wire around an iron nail, touch its stripped ends to an AA battery briefly, and count the paper clips it lifts.
Ask: Why does an MRI align hydrogen nuclei while a mass spectrometer bends ions, and what does each device produce?
Give pairs cards labeled motor, speaker, MRI, and mass spectrometer; have them match each device to its job.
Show an MRI safety sign and ask why a loose steel tool must stay out of the scan room.

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