Magnets & Magnetic Materials Explorer
Drag magnets to see them attract or repel. Test which everyday objects stick to a magnet. Solve fun design challenges using magnets and magnetic materials.
Drag the magnets to see how poles interact. Flip them to try different combinations!
Reference Guide
North and South Poles
Every magnet has two ends called poles. One end is the north pole (N) and the other is the south pole (S).
Opposite poles attract each other. If you bring a north pole near a south pole, they pull together. Same poles repel. Two north poles (or two south poles) push each other away.
Magnetic vs Non-Magnetic
Magnetic materials are attracted to magnets. Iron, steel, and nickel are the most common magnetic metals. Paperclips, iron nails, and steel keys all stick to magnets.
Non-magnetic materials are not attracted. Wood, plastic, glass, rubber, copper, and aluminum do not stick to magnets even though some of them are metals.
Magnetic Fields
The invisible area around a magnet where its force can be felt is called the magnetic field. You cannot see it, but you can see its effects when it pulls or pushes magnetic objects.
The field is strongest at the poles and gets weaker as you move farther away. Iron filings sprinkled near a magnet line up to show the shape of the field.
Magnets Around You
Magnets are everywhere. Fridge magnets hold notes on the door. Compasses use a tiny magnet to point north. Cabinet latches use magnets to keep doors shut. Speakers and headphones use magnets to make sound.
Earth itself is a giant magnet. That is why compass needles always point toward the North Pole.