{"id":240801,"date":"2021-02-21T12:00:10","date_gmt":"2021-02-21T04:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/?p=240801"},"modified":"2024-04-18T13:07:12","modified_gmt":"2024-04-18T05:07:12","slug":"how-to-be-a-snake-charmer-using-magnets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/how-to-be-a-snake-charmer-using-magnets\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Be a “Snake Charmer” Using Magnets!"},"content":{"rendered":"

[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ hover_enabled=”0″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]<\/p>\n

Hi Everyone!<\/p>\n

What was the last movie you’ve seen? I watched the movie Sahara (2017) recently and there was a scene featuring a cobra dancing to the music from a flute played by a snake charmer.<\/p>\n

This ignited my curiosity to learn how snake charming works so I went to do more research on the Internet. Firstly, if you didn’t know, a snake charmer is rumoured to be able to \u2018charm\u2019 snakes by playing music from the flute and making the snakes dance. Do you think it is true that the snakes are dancing and swaying to the music? Are the snakes really able to appreciate music?<\/p>\n

\n

Read Also:<\/h3>\n
    \n
  1. Ultimate Science Practice Series: Magnets (Practice Questions & Explainer Videos)<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n
  2. Light Energy: Why Does the Length of a Shadow Change?<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/div>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    If you are a firm believer in snakes being able to appreciate and dance to the music, I am sorry to have to burst your bubble today.<\/p>\n

    \n

    \ud83d\udc0d Fun fact:<\/strong> Snakes do not have external ears and cannot hear sounds. Thus, it is impossible for the snakes to be swaying to the music from the flute.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Now, how do we replicate the scenario of snakes swaying to the movement of the flute? I have selected a question on Magnets<\/strong><\/a> from the 2016 <\/strong>Pei Hua Presbyterian Primary School <\/strong>(PHPPS) P5 CA1 Examination Paper<\/strong> for discussion that uses the magnetic properties of objects to replicate the scenario of snakes swaying to the movement<\/strong> of the flute and not to the music of the flute.<\/p>\n\n

    Question Analysis<\/h2>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    Source: Pei Hua Presbyterian Primary School \u2013 2016 P5 CA1 Examination Paper [Q9]<\/em><\/p>\n

    Thought Process<\/h2>\n

    This is a real-life application<\/u><\/strong> question based on the activity of snake charming. Real-life application questions are an area where students are generally less confident as the scenarios that are tested are always changing.<\/p>\n

    So, what is the key to answering real-life application questions then?<\/p>\n

    I will always advise my students to follow these steps:<\/p>\n

      \n
    1. Identify and highlight the keywords\/keyphrases in the question.<\/li>\n
    2. Link the keywords\/keyphrases to the science concepts involved.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      If this sounds abstract to you, don’t worry! Let’s go through how to tackle this question using the above steps together.<\/p>\n

      Step 1: Identify and highlight the keywords\/keyphrases in the question.<\/h3>\n

      \u201cWhat do you think are the important keywords\/keyphrases in the question that we should highlight and focus on?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

      Give it a try and see if you’re able to pick out the same keywords\/keyphrases as me:<\/p>\n

      A \u2013 a flute<\/strong> with a magnet<\/strong> in it<\/p>\n

      B \u2013 The \u2018cobra<\/strong>\u2019 is \u201ca piece of rope with a magnetic <\/strong>material\u201d<\/p>\n

      C \u2013 \u201cBy blowing a tune on his flute<\/strong> and moving<\/strong>, he made the \u2018cobra<\/strong>\u2019 move along<\/strong> with the music\u201d.<\/p>\n

      Now that we’ve identified the keywords\/keyphrases above, let’s move on to Step 2!<\/p>\n

      Step 2: Link the keywords\/keyphrases to the science concepts involved.<\/h3>\n

      Now that we have identified that the flute contains the magnet<\/strong> and the \u2018cobra\u2019 contains a magnetic material<\/strong>, the next question to ask ourselves is:<\/p>\n

      \u201cWhen the flute moves to the right, the \u2018cobra\u2019 moves to the right. When the flute moves to the left, the \u2018cobra\u2019 moves to the left. Why does this happen?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

      For the \u2018cobra\u2019 (containing a magnetic material) to be moving towards the flute (containing a magnet), it must be that the magnet\u2019s magnetism attracted the magnetic material<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      Also, if you’ve realised, the \u2018cobra\u2019 (containing a magnetic material) moves together with the flute (containing a magnet) without touching each other<\/strong>. Why does this happen? The magnet\u2019s magnetism must have been able to act at a distance<\/strong> to attract the magnetic<\/strong> material in the \u2018cobra\u2019.<\/p>\n

      Final Analysis<\/h2>\n

      Now that we have identified the concept involved for the \u2018cobra\u2019 to move with the \u2018flute\u2019, let us identify the correct answer.<\/p>\n

      \"\"<\/p>\n

      Some students may already have chosen Option (1): Unlike poles of two magnets attract.<\/strong> as the correct answer when they encountered the question. They are going to exclaim, \u201cMr. Derrick, isn\u2019t it true that the unlike poles of two magnets attract? Why is Option (1) wrong?\u201d<\/p>\n

      Yes, it is true that the unlike poles of magnets attract. However, isn\u2019t it also true that magnetic forces can act at a distance (Option 2) and magnets always come to rest in the North-South direction (Option 4)? So if Options 1, 2 and 4 are all possible, is there a problem with the question? \ud83e\udd14<\/p>\n

      No, there is no problem with the question. The question is asking for the concepts used by Zainal in his \u2018magic trick\u2019<\/span><\/strong>. Thus, you have to choose the relevant concept that allows the \u2018magic trick\u2019 to work<\/strong>, and not just any concepts that are correct.<\/p>\n

      With this in mind, let’s take a look at the options given:<\/p>\n

      Option (1): Unlike poles of two magnets attract.<\/h4>\n

      Analysis:<\/strong> Were there 2 magnets used in Zainal\u2019s \u2018magic trick\u2019? No, the \u2018magic trick\u2019 only involves a magnet<\/strong> (of the flute) and a magnetic material<\/strong> (in the \u2018cobra\u2019) near to each other. Thus, Zainal\u2019s \u2018magic trick\u2019 does not demonstrate the concept that unlike poles of two magnets<\/strong> attract. Option (1) is incorrect<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

      Option (2): Magnetic forces can act at a distance.<\/h4>\n

      Analysis:<\/strong> As discussed in Step 2 of the thought process, the magnet\u2019s magnetic force acting at a distance<\/strong> to attract the magnetic material is required for this magic trick to work. Option (2) is correct<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

      Option (3): Magnets attract non-magnetic materials.<\/h4>\n

      Analysis:<\/strong> Magnets attract magnetic materials and not<\/span> non-magnetic materials. Option (3) is incorrect<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

      Option (4): Magnets always come to rest in the North-South direction.<\/h4>\n

      Analysis:<\/strong> If we have a bar magnet placed on a piece of Styrofoam that is floating on water or a bar magnet that is freely suspended on one end of a string, we will observe that the bar magnets in both cases will rotate until they eventually come to rest in the North-South direction.<\/p>\n

      \"\"\"\" \u00a0\"\"<\/p>\n

      Does Zaihal\u2019s \u2018magic trick\u2019 demonstrate this concept? No, it does not!\u00a0 Thus, as Zaihal\u2019s \u2018magic trick\u2019 does not show that magnets come to a rest in the North-South direction, Option (4) is incorrect<\/strong><\/span>.<\/p>\n

      Do-It-Yourself<\/h3>\n

      If you wish to be a \u2018snake charmer\u2019 like Zaihal and amaze your friends with this \u2018magic trick\u2019, you can prepare the following items:<\/p>\n

        \n
      1. A flute<\/li>\n
      2. A magnet<\/li>\n
      3. A rope<\/li>\n
      4. A magnetic material<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Attach the magnet at the mouth of the flute and attach the magnetic material near one end of the rope and you can now be a \u2018snake charmer\u2019 yourself too. Enjoy!<\/p>\n

        Conclusion<\/h2>\n

        I hope that you have enjoyed reading this article and that you have gained a better understanding on:<\/p>\n

          \n
        1. How to tackle real-life application questions on magnets.<\/li>\n
        2. Why snakes actually move and sway to the flute.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Stay tuned for more articles coming your way! \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n

          [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row disabled_on=”off|off|off” admin_label=”CCI” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”0px||” custom_padding=”0px||” global_module=”239753″ saved_tabs=”all” collapsed=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_divider color=”#898989″ admin_label=”Divider” _builder_version=”4.16″ locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/thepiquelab.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/The-Pique-Lab-CCI-Science-Course-CTA.png” align=”center” align_tablet=”center” align_phone=”” align_last_edited=”on|desktop” admin_label=”CCI” _builder_version=”4.16″ z_index_tablet=”500″ global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.16″ text_font=”||||||||” text_text_color=”#333333″ text_font_size=”18px” text_orientation=”center” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n

          If you like our methodology, we’ve some upcoming workshops:<\/p>\n

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          P3 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a>
          P4 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a>
          P5 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a>
          P6 Complete Concept Integration\u2122 Science Course<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

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