What Do Magnets Do?

• They attract certain materials eg

iron
steel
nickel
cobalt

• Magnetic materials are attracted to the poles of the magnet.

On a bar magnet the poles are at either end of the magnet. Poles occur in pairs of equal strength.

• One pole - North seeking pole - N pole- pointing roughly to the Earth's North pole.

Other pole - South - S pole

• Like poles repel

Unlike poles attract

• Force between magnetic poles decreases as their separation increases.

Test for a MagnetA permanent magnet causes repulsion with one pole when the poles are brought in turn near a suspended magnet.
An unmagnetised magnet material would be attracted to both poles.
Repulsion is the only sure test for a magnet

• Magnetism can work over a distance and magnets can exert a force (push or pull) on objects without making contact with them.

Just think about the effect of the Earth's magnetic field on a compass needle.