Magnets are amazing tools that can pull or push certain objects without touching them. This invisible pulling and pushing force is called magnetism. Magnetism comes from tiny particles inside objects, called atoms, that have a special kind of energy. When atoms are lined up in the right way, they create a magnetic field, which is what makes a magnet work.
There are many different kinds of magnets. Some are natural and found in rocks, like a mineral called magnetite. Others are man-made and shaped into bars, discs, or even horseshoes. A magnet always has two ends, called poles: a north pole and a south pole. Opposite poles attract, which means they pull toward each other. But if you try to bring two north poles or two south poles together, they will repel, or push away from each other.
Magnets are used in many everyday objects. For example, they are inside speakers to help create sound. They are in compasses, which help people find directions by pointing north. Magnets are also in some kinds of trains, called maglev trains, which use powerful magnets to float above the tracks and move very fast.
One fun experiment you can try is to see what objects a magnet will attract. You might notice that magnets stick to paperclips, nails, or keys. But they don’t stick to plastic or glass. That’s because magnets attract materials made of certain metals, like iron or steel.
Magnets have been helping people make discoveries and inventions for hundreds of years. Scientists continue to study how magnetism works, and they’re still finding new ways to use it in technology. Even though you can’t see a magnetic field, you can see the effects of this invisible force everywhere in your daily life.
Vocabulary Words and Definitions
• Magnetism – The force that makes magnets pull or push certain objects.
• Atoms – The tiny building blocks that make up everything in the world.
• Magnetic field – The area around a magnet where its pulling or pushing force can be felt.
• Poles – The ends of a magnet, called the north pole and south pole.
• Repel – To push away from something.