A magnet can pull some materials towards it without touching them. Materials that are attracted to a magnet are magnetic. Iron and steel are magnetic, and so are nickel and cobalt. Most other materials, such as wood, plastic, paper, copper and aluminium, are not.
Every magnet has two ends called poles: a north pole and a south pole. Two different poles attract (pull together). Two of the same poles repel (push apart). The pull of a magnet works through paper and even water, but it gets weaker further away. A compass needle is a tiny magnet that lines up with the Earth's magnetism and points north.
Worked example
Two magnets are held with their north poles facing. What happens?
- The poles are the same: north and north.
- Like poles repel.
Answer:So the magnets push apart.
Key words
- attract
- pull towards
- repel
- push away
- pole
- an end of a magnet, north or south
- magnetic
- attracted to a magnet
New questions every time.
NGSS-referenced: 3-PS2-3