What is a magnet?

A magnet is a piece of metal or rock that can pull certain types of metal toward itself. The ability of a magnet to pull certain objects toward itself is called magnetism.

More about magnets

Magnets attract objects that contain lots of iron, cobalt, nickel and some other metals.

Magnets can attract (pull) or repel (push away) other magnets.

Magnets have a north pole and a south pole.

The north pole of this magnet is red and the south pole is blue.

Opposite poles of magnets attract each other. This means that the north pole of one magnet will stick to the south pole of another magnet.

Like poles of magnets repel each other. This means that if you try to stick two north poles or two south poles of magnets, they will push each other away. They will not stick together.

The south poles of two magnets push each other away. Like poles repel.

What are magnets used for?

Magnets have many uses in everyday life. There are small magnets that are used to hold papers on the doors of refrigerators. Magnets are used to keep automatic doors shut. The speakers in your radio or sound system have magnets which help them work properly. Inside a compass is a magnet that makes the needle point north. Even credit and debit cards have magnetic strips which help them work.