Magnets: Properties and Interactions

Magnets: Properties and Uses

• Magnets are objects made of special materials (like iron, nickel, cobalt, and steel) that can pull or attract other magnetic materials.
• Some magnets are natural (like magnetite), while others are man-made from iron or steel and can be various shapes (e.g., U-shaped, horseshoe, bar).

Magnet Interactions

• Magnets attract certain materials (magnetic materials).
• Non-magnetic materials are not attracted to magnets (e.g., gold, silver, aluminium, wood, paper).
• Magnets have two poles: north (N) and south (S).
• Like poles (N-N or S-S) repel each other.
• Unlike poles (N-S) attract each other.

Force and Magnets

• A force is a push or pull.
• Magnets exert forces on other magnetic materials.
• Magnetic forces are strongest at the poles of the magnet.
• Interactions between magnets result in forces of attraction or repulsion.

Types of Forces and Effects

• Friction is a force that slows or stops moving objects.
• Forces can change an object's motion (start, stop, or change speed/direction).
• Forces can change an object's shape or size.

Magnet Uses

• Magnets are used in many everyday devices: telephones, headphones, speakers, computers, video recorders, refrigerators.
• Electromagnets are temporary magnets that become magnetic when electricity flows through them.