• They attract certain materials eg

• 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

• Force between magnetic poles decreases as their separation increases.

A 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.

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