Science · Forces & motion
Magnetism
What magnets attract and repel.
What are magnets?
Magnets are special objects that can pull some things towards them. This pulling force is called magnetism. Not all objects are attracted to magnets. Magnets have two ends called poles. Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole.
What do magnets attract?
Magnets attract objects made of iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. Iron and steel are the most common magnetic materials. A paperclip is made of steel, so magnets attract it. Wood, plastic, paper and glass are not magnetic. Magnets do not attract them.
How poles attract and repel
When two magnets come close, their poles interact. Opposite poles attract each other. North pole and south pole pull together. Like poles repel each other. North and north push apart. South and south also push apart.
Magnetic force works through materials
Magnetism can work through some materials. A magnet can attract a paperclip through paper or thin plastic. The magnetic force passes through non-magnetic materials. Thicker materials make the force weaker. Very thick steel can block magnetism.
Worked examples
1. You have a bar magnet with north and south poles. Will it attract an iron nail?
- Check what the nail is made of. It is iron.
- Magnets attract iron and steel objects.
- Yes, the magnet will attract the iron nail.
2. Two magnets face each other: north pole to north pole. What happens?
- Both poles are north poles. They are like poles.
- Like poles repel. They push each other away.
- The magnets will push apart, not pull together.
3. Will a magnet attract a wooden pencil?
- Check what the pencil is made of. It is wood.
- Wood is not a magnetic material.
- No, the magnet will not attract the wooden pencil.
Try it yourself
A magnet's south pole is near another magnet's north pole. What will happen?
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