Question: A magnet attracted another magnet even when a foam block was placed between them (see box A below). What do you think would happen if 2 foam blocks were placed between the 2 magnets (see box B). A. The magnets will stick. B. The magnets will not stick. (C. It might stick, but it might not.) Explain why you chose that answer.
Reference answer: You can not tell because we do not know the strength of the magnets. If the magnets are weak, the second piece of foam might put too much distance between the 2 magnets for the interaction to hold the magnets in place. If the magnets are strong the magnets might stay in place.

Student answer: I chose because that is the answer.

Student answer: Because 2 sponges is too much.

Student answer: It depends on the power of the magnets.

Student answer: Because the force field might be big enough to go through both foam blocks but it might not be.

Student answer: In example A the magnets stuck. But example B it has 2 blocks and it does not matter if it is thick or thin.

Student answer: I chose that answer because the foam blocks are too thick for the magnet to attract each other.

Student answer: I choose that answer because in the picture the magnets look like they will fall to the ground but the magnets are still connected. So I think the magnets will fall.

Student answer: It depends how strong the magnets are or how big the magnetic force is.

Student answer: It will not stick because the magnets force field is not strong enough.

Student answer: Because it is far away and I do not know how big the energy field is.

Student answer: Because the 2 foam blocks are too thick.

Student answer: Because the foam will be too thick with 2.

Student answer: It depends on how big or thick the sponge is. It also depends on how strong the magnets are.

Student answer: Because the magnets are too far away from each other and they fall.

Student answer: The foam blocks are too thick so they will not work.

Student answer: It might stick because the magnets are strong or it might not because the foam could be too thick.

Student answer: Because the magnets have a magnetic field surrounding them.

Student answer: The foam blocks are too thick, the magnetic force cannot go through.

Student answer: Magnets only have such a big magnetic field.

Student answer: Because 2 foam blocks are a lot thicker for the magnetic field to get through.

Student answer: Because a magnet has a field around it and if it is too big that the field cannot reach the other magnet.

Student answer: It is too thick.

Student answer: I said the magnets will stick because magnets have really strong magnetic fields and those really strong magnetic fields so they can go through 2 foam blocks.

Student answer: I chose that answer because 2 foam blocks too much for the magnet.

Student answer: Because it is has 2 sponges.

Student answer: I chose that answer because the gap between the 2 magnets is too big.

Student answer: I chose this answer because there is too many foam blocks between the 2 magnets.

Student answer: I chose that answer because the 2 foam blocks are so thick that the magnetism cannot get through them.

Student answer: The foam blocks are thick so the magnetism will not be able to go through.

Student answer: Because here I tried this with my reading book and it is thinner or it did not stick.

Student answer: The magnets will not stick because 2 foam blocks have more space than one.

Student answer: I chose this answer because it could be blocked or it could be attracted.

Student answer: Depends on how powerful the magnets are.

Student answer: I chose C. It might stick, but it might not because it depends on how strong the magnet is.

Student answer: Magnetism is strong.

Student answer: I chose that answer because whether it sticks or not depends on how powerful the magnets are.