Main content
Course: Middle school physics > Unit 2
Lesson 4: Magnetic forcesMagnetic forces
Review your understanding of magnetic forces in this free article aligned to NGSS standards.
Key points:
- A magnet is any object that can attract other materials with magnetic properties through a magnetic force.
- Every magnet has a north pole and a south pole. Either pole will attract iron.
- The direction of magnetic force between two magnets depends on how the poles are oriented.
Opposite poles attract
Like poles repel
- The strength of a magnetic force depends on the strength of the magnets and the distance between magnetic objects.
- The magnetic force is stronger when the magnets are stronger.
- Also, the magnetic force is stronger when objects are closer together.
Want to join the conversation?
- Can magnets lose their magnetic field or power over time?(87 votes)
- Yes, they actually do decay over time.(84 votes)
- how are magnets made? and how did they come up with the compound/mixture to make magnets! and how do they repel? is it a natural function?(22 votes)
- There are several processes for making magnets, but the most common method is called Powder Metallurgy. In this process, a suitable composition is pulverized into fine powder, compacted and heated to cause densification via “liquid phase sintering”. Therefore, these magnets are most often called sintered magnets.
Magnetism is the force exerted by magnets when they attract or repel each other. Magnetism is caused by the motion of electric charges.(43 votes)
- It felt like an achievement every time the north poles touched:P(29 votes)
- so true tho :P(1 vote)
- I wonder if we can turn off the magnet? Arent this an infinite force?(10 votes)
- Applying high temperatures can cause a permanent magnet to lose some or all of its magnetic properties. This process is known as "demagnetization." However, the heating process needs to be carefully controlled to avoid damaging the magnet or surrounding materials.(8 votes)
- How to make cheese with magnets(12 votes)
- 1. Look it up.
2. Do that.(12 votes)
- Why do opposite poles attract each other but not the same poles?(6 votes)
- Opposite poles attract each other but not the same poles because the density of the magnetic field lines is higher near the poles where the magnetic force is stronger. When two magnets are placed with their like poles facing each other, the lines of force are in opposite directions, and the like poles repel each other.
I hope this helps!(17 votes)
- How are the north and south poles of a magnet determined? Where do magnets get a north and south pole and does it have anything to do with our planet's north and south poles?(8 votes)
- You can determine the north and south poles of a magnet by placing a magnet next to a compass and the compass will point toward the south pole of the magnet.(6 votes)
- if the north goes south how does the earth not break.(7 votes)
- They are far, far, far apart the earth is approximately
24,901.461 miles long
thats very far so they do not attract or deflect each other(2 votes)
- what makes a magnet? is it metal?!?(5 votes)
- it's made of ferromagnetic elments which are similar to iron,nickel and colbat.how it's a magnet because its atomes are arrnge in magnetic domains which are all lined in the same direction creating a magnet(5 votes)
- i aint readin all that(6 votes)