Magnets
Kindergarten · Science · Study Guide
Discover the invisible force of magnets and learn which things they attract!
A magnet is a special object that can pull certain things toward it without touching them! This pulling power is called magnetic force. You cannot see the magnetic force, but you can feel it and see what it does. Magnets attract things made of iron, steel, and nickel — these are called magnetic materials.
Every magnet has two ends called poles — a north pole and a south pole. Here is the cool part: opposite poles attract each other (north pulls south), but the same poles push each other away (north pushes north). This pushing away is called repulsion.
Magnets are used in many everyday things. Refrigerator doors use magnets to stay closed. Compasses use a small magnet inside to always point north, which helps people find their way. Speakers in headphones use magnets to make sound. Magnets are truly everywhere once you start looking!
| Magnetic (Attracted) | Not Magnetic |
|---|---|
| Iron nail | Wood block |
| Steel paper clip | Plastic toy |
| Nickel coin | Glass marble |
| Steel scissors | Rubber eraser |
Key terms
- Magnet
- An object that attracts certain metals like iron and steel.
- Magnetic force
- The invisible pulling or pushing force of a magnet.
- Pole
- One of the two ends of a magnet — north pole or south pole.
- Attract
- To pull toward — magnets attract magnetic materials.
- Repel
- To push away — two like poles repel each other.
Flashcards
- Magnet
- An object that attracts iron and steel with an invisible force.
- Attract
- To pull toward — what opposite poles do.
- Repel
- To push away — what same poles do.
- North pole
- One end of a magnet that attracts a south pole.
- South pole
- The other end of a magnet that attracts a north pole.
- Magnetic force
- The invisible push or pull force of a magnet.
Practice questions
What material are magnets attracted to?
- Wood
- Plastic
- Iron and steel
- Rubber
Show answer
Answer: Iron and steel
Magnets attract metals that contain iron — including iron itself, steel (which contains iron), and nickel.
Opposite poles of a magnet attract each other.
Show answer
Answer: True
Opposite poles attract — a north pole and a south pole will pull toward each other.
How many poles does every magnet have?
- One
- Two
- Three
- Four
Show answer
Answer: Two
Every magnet has exactly two poles — a north pole and a south pole.
A magnet will attract a wooden block.
Show answer
Answer: False
Wood is not a magnetic material — magnets only attract metals like iron and steel.
When two like poles come together, they ___ each other.
Show answer
Answer: repel
When two north poles or two south poles face each other, they push each other away — this is called repulsion.
Fun facts
- The Earth itself is a giant magnet! That is why compass needles always point toward the North Pole.
- Maglev trains in Japan float above the track using magnets — they have no wheels at all!
- Ancient people discovered naturally magnetic rocks called lodestones over 2,000 years ago.
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