Why Do Magnets Stick to Some Coins but Not Others?

What Crafty Clover says in this video

Intro

Hi there, curious minds! I'm Crafty Clover! Let's discover something amazing. Why do magnets stick to some coins but not others?

The Big Idea

Take a magnet and test a handful of coins, and you may get a surprise. Some coins stick, some do not, and some stick just a little. The secret is in what the coin is made of.

Look at the Metal

Step one: look at the metal. A coin is magnetic only if it contains enough iron, nickel in the right form, or cobalt. Without those metals, a magnet has nothing to grab.

Steel Cores

Step two: look for steel cores. Many Canadian coins have a steel core under a thin plating, so a magnet clings to them. U.S. coins are mostly copper, zinc, and nickel mixtures, and magnets ignore them.

Don't Trust Color

Step three: do not trust the color. A coin's color can fool you, so the only real test is a magnet. In 1943, U.S. pennies were made of zinc-coated steel to save copper, and magnets stick to those.

A Closer Look

Let's take a closer look! Some coins have a steel core inside. A thin plating covers the steel. Copper and zinc coins do not stick. The magnet tells the truth.

Quick Facts

Quick facts! Many Canadian coins have a steel core under thin plating. Most U.S. coins are copper, zinc, and nickel mixtures that magnets ignore. In 1943, U.S. pennies were made of zinc-coated steel. A coin's color can fool you, so test with a magnet.

Think Like a Scientist

Now, think like a scientist! With a grown-up, test a magnet on every coin you can find. Sort them into three piles. Call them sticks, does not stick, and sticks a little. Which pile is biggest?

Outro

Only coins with enough iron or other magnetic metals stick to a magnet. Science is amazing! Crafty Clover can be found on Amazon Books, Google Bookstore, and Apple Books. Available for purchase or download! Bye for now!