What are Magnets

• What is a magnet?

  A material that produces a magnetic field
• What is the most common type of magnet?

  Bar magnets
• What do all magnets have in common?

  They have a north and a south pole
• How do we represent magnetic fields?

  Using field lines
• How do you draw field lines for a magnet?

  From the north pole to the south pole
• What direction should the arrows on field lines point?

  Out of the north and into the south
• What does the density of field lines indicate?

  The strength of the magnetic field
• How does the strength of the magnetic field vary near the poles?

  It is stronger near the poles
• Why can't we see magnetic field lines in real life?

  They are invisible
• How does a compass help find magnetic poles?

  The needle aligns with magnetic field lines
• What does the compass needle point towards?

  The south pole of a magnet
• How do you determine the north pole of a magnet using a compass?

  By observing where the compass needle points away
• What happens when you push two north poles of magnets together?

  They repel each other
• What occurs when opposite poles of magnets are brought together?

  They attract each other
• What are the steps to represent magnetic fields using field lines?

  • Draw a straight line into the south pole
  • Draw a line coming out of the north pole
  • Add slightly curved lines into the south pole
  • Add similar pairs coming out of the north
  • Draw loops around from north to south
  • Ensure arrows point from north to south
• How do magnetic fields interact between two magnets?

  • North poles repel each other
  • Opposite poles attract each other
  • Field lines show the interaction force