|
Magnetism is a force all
around us. It cannot be seen but the way it acts
can be seen. Magnets exert a force
of attraction on anything made of iron. Anything
made of iron will be attracted to a magnet. A
magnet will often not attract things that are not made
of, or do not contain iron. However, scientist
have developed and discovered materials that are
non-ferrous (no iron) that will act as magnets and be
attracted to magnets.
|
N
S
|
Look at the magnet above. It is
called a bar magnet. It has two ends. The
end labeled N means north. The end labeled S means
south. These two ends are the magnetic poles.
The force of a magnet is strongest at the poles.
If you tie a string to the middle of a bar magnet, the
north end will point north and the south end will point
south.
The earth is like a giant magnet!
The magnetic fields surrounding earth are near the North
Pole and the South Pole. That is why the poles or
ends of a bar magnet are called north and south.
Look at the magnets below. The
south pole of a magnet attracts the north pole of
another magnet.
|
N
S
|
N
S
|
|
|
|
|
Unlike poles
attract |
Repel means "push away"
or "push apart." Look at the magnets below.
The north pole of the magnet repels the north pole of
the other magnet.
Try it yourself! Get two bar magnets
and experiment with them.
Directions: Answer the
questions about magnetism.
|
