Magnets

 

What are magnets?

The main magnetic elements are three transition metals. They are:

 

• Iron
• Cobalt
• Nickel

 

Steel is a mixture of iron and carbon. Since steel has a lot of iron, it is magnetic.

 

Magnets have two magnetic poles:

 

• North pole – points to the North
• South pole – points to the South

 

 

A bar magnet

 

Attraction and Repulsion

Bar magnets are the most common magnets. They have two ends, called poles: one north, and one south. When you bring two north ends together, they push each other away. The same happens when you bring two south ends together. When you bring a north and a south end together, they pull each other closer. We say that opposite poles attract, and same poles repel.

 

 

Like poles repel.

 

 

Opposite poles attract.

 

Summary:

 

• The two forces that occur when you put magnets together are attraction and repulsion.
• Opposite poles attract.
• Like poles repel.