How do magnets work?

Stick a magnet to the fridge and clunk — it holds on tight, even though nothing is glueing it there. What is this invisible power?

An invisible force

Every magnet has a special pulling power around it called a magnetic force. You cannot see it, but you can feel it tug. This force reaches out into the space all around the magnet, like a bubble you cannot see.

When the right kind of metal comes near, the force grabs hold and pulls it close.

Magnets love iron

A magnet does not stick to everything. It pulls on metals like iron and steel — that’s why it grips the fridge door, which is made of steel. But it ignores plastic, wood, glass and even some metals like gold.

So if a magnet sticks to something, you have found a clue that iron is hiding inside it!

Push and pull

Every magnet has two ends, called poles — a north pole and a south pole. Here is the surprise: two magnets do not always pull together.

If you turn one around, the matching poles push apart, like they don’t want to touch. The opposite poles pull together instead. Try it and feel the magic for yourself.

Wonder fact: The whole Earth is a giant magnet! That is how a compass needle always swings to point the way north.