Magnets and Magnetism
Explore magnetic fields, north and south poles, and discover magnetic objects in your everyday world
Child experimenting with magnets and metal objects on a table
Have you ever played with magnets and watched them mysteriously push away from each other or snap together? Magnets create invisible forces that can work through air, water, and even some solid materials. It's like magic, but it's actually science!
How Do Magnets Work?
Every magnet has two special areas called poles - a north pole and a south pole. These poles create an invisible bubble of force around the magnet called a magnetic field. You can't see it, but it's there, just like the wind!
What Can Magnets Attract?
Magnets are picky about what they like! They only attract objects made of certain metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt. These are called magnetic materials. Most everyday items like plastic toys, wooden pencils, and aluminum cans won't stick to magnets.
Magnets in Your World
Magnets are hidden helpers in many things you use every day! They're inside speakers and headphones to make sound, in electric motors that power toys, and even in the magnetic strips on credit cards.
Earth itself is like a giant magnet with north and south poles! That's why compass needles always point north - they're attracted to Earth's magnetic field. Pretty amazing that our whole planet is magnetic!
