What is a magnet?

You may have used magnets to pull (or attract) things made of metal, like steel paper clips. A magnet is any object that attracts certain metal objects. A magnet also can attract or can push away (repel) another magnet.

Refrigerator Magnets

Refrigerator magnets are made up of very tiny strips of magnets placed next to each other. The way they are arranged causes the ability to attract to be very strong on one side of the magnet. That is why one side of the magnet attracts (or sticks to) the metal in a refrigerator.

Magnetic Poles

Hold two bar magnets by strings. Point the ends toward each other. The ends will push or pull each other. The ends of a bar magnet are its poles. A pole is the part of a magnet where the ability to push or pull is the strongest. Magnets have two poles—north (N) and south (S). When the poles are brought together:

The ability to attract or repel depends on how far apart two magnets are. The farther apart two magnets are, the weaker their ability to attract or repel each other becomes. Far enough apart, the magnets do not attract or repel at all.