Magnets and magnetism

📖 In short

A magnet is a piece of iron or special material that pulls things made of iron, like nails and pins. A magnet has an invisible force called magnetism. We find magnets in lots of things: on the fridge door, in a compass and in phone speakers.

🤩 Did you know?

At the Earth's surface, its magnetic field is weak, about half a gauss.
A magnet's strength is measured in units called gauss or tesla.
Some fast trains float above the track using magnetic force.
Migrating birds use the Earth's magnetism to find their way.

🔎 Find out more

🌟 Two poles

Every magnet has two ends called poles: a north pole and a south pole. Different poles attract each other, but like poles push each other away.

🔍 What does it attract?

A magnet attracts iron, nickel and cobalt, but not wood, plastic, paper, gold or aluminum. Try it with things from your home!

💡 The Earth is a magnet

The Earth itself is a giant magnet, which is why a compass needle points north. The Earth's magnetism protects us from the solar wind and causes the colorful lights in the polar skies.

🎯 Electromagnets

If we wind a wire around an iron nail and send electricity through it, the nail becomes a magnet! Huge cranes use electromagnets to lift old cars and then drop them.