Lesson 1 of 6
Magnetic poles
Goal: Describe how magnets attract and repel.
Every magnet has two poles: a north pole and a south pole. Its pull is strongest there.
- Unlike poles attract. A north pole and a south pole pull towards each other.
- Like poles repel. Two north poles push each other away. So do two south poles.
- Magnetic force is a non-contact force. You can feel it before the magnets touch.
- A magnet attracts magnetic materials: iron, steel, nickel and cobalt. Copper, aluminium, plastic and wood are not magnetic.
Your turn
Check yourself
Knowledge organiser
This lesson on one page. Tap it to make it bigger.
Key words in this lesson
Magnetic force A non-contact force from a magnet on a magnetic material
Magnetic material A material that a magnet attracts, such as iron, steel, nickel or cobalt
North pole The end of a magnet that points north when the magnet can turn freely
South pole The end of a magnet that points south when the magnet can turn freely
Attract Pull towards each other
Repel Push away from each other
Like poles Two poles of the same kind, which repel
Unlike poles Two different poles, which attract