What magnets attract
Magnets attract iron, steel, nickel, and cobalt — these are magnetic materials. They don't attract plastic, wood, paper, or aluminium.
Poles
Every magnet has two ends called poles — North and South. Opposite poles attract; same poles repel.
Magnetic field
The invisible area around a magnet where it can pull or push things is called its magnetic field.
🔑 Key Terms
- Magnetic
- Able to be attracted by a magnet.
- Poles
- The two ends of a magnet (North and South).
- Repel
- To push away.
- Attract
- To pull toward.
Did you know?
The Earth itself is a giant magnet! That's why a compass needle always points north.
Try it at home: Magnet hunt
- Take a fridge magnet around your house.
- Test 10 different objects.
- Sort into 'magnetic' and 'not magnetic' piles.