magnets

**How do magnets work?**
What do magnets have that make objects stick to it? Magnets have an invisible field that forces other objects to react to its properties. This powerful force is called the magnetic field. Magnetic fields have particles called electrons that actively shift and move within the field. These electrons continuously revolve around the core of the magnet (its poles), creating energy that attracts objects. Because of this, magnets have the ability to draw objects towards itself. This ability is called magnetism, caused by the force field that magnets create through its electrons (negative charge) and protons (positive charge). If two magnets are close together, try figuring out which ends tend to meet. If you look closely, you’ll see that unlike poles attract each other, while identical poles repel each other. If you place the south pole of a magnet beside the north pole of another magnet, they will stick together. On the other hand, putting two magnets with both north poles facing each other will force them apart.

**Which objects are attracted to magnets?**
Magnets can attract all things made of iron. Objects that are made out of other metals like nickel can also stick to magnets, although non-metallic objects like glass, cloth and paper cannot be attracted to magnets.

**How do we use magnets in everyday life?**
Magnets are everywhere! You may not see it or feel it, but nearly everything that works around you uses the magnetic field. When you close the refrigerator door, the way it sticks to the fridge is because of magnets. The microwave oven where you cook your popcorn, the electric fan you use to keep off the heat, even the computer – all use magnets to function! Magnets are even present in devices we use to enjoy music: without magnets, you wouldn’t be able to use your earphones or speakers. Magnets are also useful in medical equipment and electronics. Nearly all appliances that use motor engines use magnets to make them work. The Earth is actually a huge magnet. Can you believe it? Our planet has both North and South poles, which act within the Earth’s magnetic field. Similarly, all magnets have two poles: north and south. The magnetic fields are strongest at the poles, and the ends will point towards its poles. Try hanging a bar magnet in the air, and see how the north end of the magnet follows the direction towards the Earth’s North pole, and the south end of the magnet faces the South pole. This is why the compass that we bring and use during hiking uses a magnet to show us the way we need to go.