Attract
To pull towards each other. This is what opposite poles of a magnet do
Cobalt, iron, steel and nickel
The only magnetic materials
Compass needle
A piece of magnetic material which is free to move so that it will point to the Earth's magnetic north pole. It will also point to the south pole of a bar magnet.
Magnetic materials
Materials which are attracted to a magnet
Non-magnetic materials
Materials which are not attracted to a magnet
Repel
To push away from each other. This is what similar poles of a magnet do (eg. two north poles)
Magnetic field
The area around a bar magnetic where a magnetic material experiences a force.
Magnetic field lines
These show the direction in which a compass would point if it was placed at that position
Copper, Aluminium, Zinc, Brass
These are examples of metals which are not magnetic.
Why do magnets sometimes float?
The magnetic forces balances the weight force.
Force = mass x acceleration
An equation to find the force requires to accelerate a mass
Weight = mass x gravitational field strength
The equation to find the weight force experienced by a mass on Earth's surface.
Magnetic field lines point from..
..a north pole to a south pole of a bar magnet