Step into the invisible world of magnetic forces! Experiment with North and South poles to feel how opposites attract and identical poles push away, and test everyday household items to find out which metals are magnetic.
Magnetic poles, attraction, repulsion, ferromagnetic materials, and science tips.
Every magnet on Earth has two poles: a North pole (N) and a South pole (S). Even if you cut a magnet in half, each piece creates its own North and South poles.
Opposite poles attract (North pulls South), while like poles repel (North pushes North away, and South pushes South away).
Only certain metals called ferromagnetic metals (Iron, Nickel, and Cobalt) stick to magnets because their atomic domains line up with magnetic fields.
Not all metals are magnetic: aluminum soda cans, gold jewelry, and copper wires do not have ferromagnetic atomic alignment, and neither do plastic, wood, or glass.
Take a refrigerator magnet around your house and test iron nails, paperclips, plastic toys, and soda cans to make a real-life magnetic checklist.
Earth itself is a giant magnet with a molten iron core, which is why compass needles always point towards the magnetic North Pole.
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It is a free interactive science workbench for kids and elementary students to experiment with magnetic attraction, repulsion, and ferromagnetic materials.
Two North poles (or two South poles) repel and push away from each other because their magnetic fields resist overlapping.
Opposite poles pull together. The North of one magnet and the South of another complete a simple loop between them.
No, only ferromagnetic metals like Iron, Steel, and Nickel stick to magnets. Aluminum, copper, and gold are not attracted.
Wood is made of plant fibers with no magnetic domains, so magnetic fields pass right through without pulling it.
Practice mode offers three self-paced quizzes: predicting attraction vs repulsion, sorting magnetic items, and solving mystery pole clues.
Your quiz attempts and accuracy are saved locally in your browser with no login or account required.
Complex electromagnetic Maxwell equations and quantum spin physics are excluded for age-appropriate clarity.
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