Magnets are widely used by magicians to impress audiences.However, magnetism is not magic; it is pure science. There are some forces that we cannot see with our naked eyes.Magnetism is the force exerted by magnets when they attract or repel another magnet. Magnetism is created by the motion of electrons or electric charges.Every substance is made up of small building blocks called atoms. We can’t see them as they are very tiny. Each atom is further divided into electrons, protons, and a nucleus. Electrons carry electric charges. Electrons spin like tops. The center is the nucleus of an atom. This movement generates a small amount of electric current. As a result, each electron acts as a microscopic magnet.In a non-magnetic substance, equal numbers of electrons spin in opposite directions. As a result, their net magnetism is canceled. You will see that materials like cloth or paper are not magnetic.In the case of iron, cobalt, and nickel, the electrons are not present in the same quantity. In fact, more electrons will be spinning in the same direction. Thus, the atoms become magnetic. However, they cannot be called magnets yet, as they are just magnetic in nature. To become permanent magnets, a force is needed to alter the direction of electrons in a permanent manner.For magnetization, one strong magnetic substance will have to enter the magnetic field of another existing magnet. The unpaired electrons are aligned to form a magnet. The magnetic field is the peripheral area around a magnet in which this magnetic force is active. This magnetic force has a limit; it cannot attract an object that is very far away. The distance from which a magnet can attract an item depends on the magnet’s strength.If you enjoy this article, why not also read about whether magnets are metal or how volcanoes affect the Earth here on Kidadl?Magnetic Poles Definition With ExampleMagnets have many uses in our daily lives as well. Most of the motorized machines around us have magnets in them.There are always two poles in every magnet: the north and south poles. Opposite poles are attracted to each other, but the same poles repel each other. When we rub a piece of iron over a magnet, the alignment of the electrons is changed. The force generated as a result creates weak magnetic fields due to the alignment of the atoms. The piece of iron becomes a magnet.You can test this by spreading iron filings on paper around a magnet. Then, tap the paper to see them change formation. You can use an iron needle as well. You will not see a straight line. Instead, you will be able to witness magnetic field lines.Magnetic compass needles point towards the North Pole of the Earth or the north pole of a nearby magnet. This is because the Earth is a giant magnet due to its core. Thus, a compass works on the principle of magnetism to show us the way.A few substances can be magnetized using electric charges. When electricity is passed through a coil of wire, a magnetic field is produced. The magnetic field around the coil disappears when the electric current is removed.Earth’s magnetic field is not known to move or reverse. It would be a catastrophe if this happened. It works as a useful tool. People can find their way around the whole world using the magnetic force of the Earth.In earlier times, people only used magnetic compasses to navigate using Earth’s magnetic field. There were no other ways to know directions. The magnetic needle on a compass aligns with Earth’s magnetic poles. They show the north-south direction so people can determine which way to go; the north end of any magnet points toward the Earth’s magnetic north pole.Earth’s magnetic field can be best experienced in the region called the magnetosphere; this wraps around the planet Earth and its atmosphere. A solar wind presses the magnetosphere towards the Earth. If this effect was not there, people would get lost at sea and never find land.These solar winds also create light displays known as auroras. These auroras can be seen over Alaska, Canada, and Scandinavia. They are not seen in any other parts of the Earth. These are also called the Northern Lights, while those in Antarctica and New Zealand are called the Southern Lights. This is due to the changes in the particles at the atomic level. The view is splendid.It is believed that the ancient Greeks and Chinese had knowledge about naturally magnetic objects, These were called lodestones. These were huge chunks of iron-rich minerals. They might have been magnetized due to lightning. The Chinese discovered that a needle could be made magnetic by repeatedly rubbing it against a lodestone. In such a case, the needle starts to point north-south.Why do some minerals attract magnets?Magnets attract due to the presence of a magnetic field around them.When a magnet is placed, the ferromagnetic materials in it are attracted due to their electrons. These electrons are spinning, and as a result, magnetic items are aligned easily. They then retain this new alignment even when the external magnetic field has been removed.When you bring opposite poles together, magnets stick together. This means that, when a north pole is closer to a south pole, they become attracted and stick together. A magnetic field acts similarly to the bond of a rubber band that is working to pull magnets together. Thus, the magnet attracts.This can be explained when north and south poles start to point together; you will see the arrows end up pointing in the same direction. Thus, you can also see that the field lines join up. All of this results in the magnets pulling together, which is known as attraction.Why do opposite poles of magnets attract?Magnets show attraction and repulsion. When this happens, you can see movement. It may almost feel like magic, but there is some logic behind it.Energy is required to create movement magnets attract or repel. In this scenario, we cannot see the force. It is the magnetic force or the magnetic field that is causing the movement. There is potential energy stored in the object. This is converted into kinetic energy when they move.The magnetic fields that always surround magnets are all full of stored-up energy. But, there’s a change in their energy when another magnet is brought closer. This causes movement. Magnets can attract other metals when there is an availability of an electric charge.When the poles are opposites, a magnet attracts. You will see that the field lines of opposite magnets will merge, while in the case of the same poles, they will collide. So, to avoid this collision, the same poles repel each other. On the other hand, the same poles attract to enhance their energy and field.In the case of magnets, there are fixed rules that govern magnetism.When two magnets with unlike-poles are pointing at each other (north pole to south pole), then bringing them together shall decrease the energy stored up or potential energy in the magnetic fields. They will automatically be pushed in the opposite direction to bring back equilibrium. This will decrease the amount of potential energy or stored-up energy. As a result, they are forced together. This is known as attraction. Thus, magnets attract.Similarly, when two magnets are placed with the same poles together (for example, a south pole to a south pole), then stored-up energy or potential energy will decrease by causing them to move apart. The magnets repel. The main aim is to bring back the equilibrium and maintain their energy levels.To experience magnetic force, do magnets have to touch?Magnets are attracted and repelled due to the presence of a magnetic field. This is seen as attraction or repulsion.Magnetic forces are no contact forces. You cannot see the force with the naked eye, but you can see its effect. This has been very wisely used by many magicians and scientists.The pull or push is exerted on objects without directly touching them. Magnets can attract only a few metals. These metals are mostly ferromagnetic in nature, even if they are not magnets. There has to be the presence of unpaired electrons for this effect to occur. They attract charged particles.Magnets are attracted to other magnets of a strong magnetic field or one of the same power. They can pull other magnets of lower power towards themselves. In the case of opposite poles, you will see the same level of repulsion. It happens when north and south are brought closer.Some materials can be made into magnets by passing electric currents through a wire made of them. These are called temporary or soft magnets and are known as electromagnets. They are able to attract other objects made of metal. This concept of a magnet is used in recycling units to separate iron. The other commonly used type of magnet can be found in electric motors.Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked learning why magnets attract, then why not take a look at our articles on Viking runes or Abigail Adams?
Magnets are widely used by magicians to impress audiences.
