Science
What is Magnetism?
Magnetism is a force that makes certain materials attract or repel each other, created by the motion of electric charges. A magnet has two poles — north and south — and is surrounded by an invisible magnetic field that pulls on magnetic materials like iron.
See it, don’t just read it.
Watch a 2-minute lesson with voice + animation that explains magnetism.
Key things to understand
- 1Magnetism comes from moving electric charges — at the atomic level, from the motion and spin of electrons.
- 2Every magnet has two poles: like poles (N-N or S-S) repel; opposite poles (N-S) attract.
- 3A magnetic field is the invisible region of influence around a magnet, strongest near the poles.
- 4Electricity and magnetism are deeply linked — a moving magnet makes electricity, and an electric current makes a magnetic field (electromagnetism).
- 5Earth itself acts like a giant magnet, which is why a compass needle points north.
Frequently asked questions
- What's the link between electricity and magnetism?
- They're two sides of one force, electromagnetism. A changing magnetic field creates an electric current, and an electric current creates a magnetic field — the principle behind motors and generators.
- Why do magnets have two poles?
- Every magnet has a north and a south pole. Cut a magnet in half and each piece becomes a smaller magnet with its own two poles — you can't isolate a single pole.
- Why does a compass point north?
- Earth behaves like a huge magnet, and a compass needle (a small magnet) aligns with Earth's magnetic field, pointing roughly toward the north.