Magnets

 

What is a Magnet?

The term magnet is derived from magnetite which has the property of attracting iron and the other magnetic substances towards itself. 

Properties of Magnet

1. Poles of a magnet: All magnets have two poles, where magnetic effect is the strongest. They are north and south poles.
2. Poles exist in pair: Even if you break a magnet into two parts, then each part behaves like a magnet having both the poles. Therefore, poles of a magnet always exist in pair.
3. Attractive property: When a magnet is brought near to magnetic objects (objects that attract to magnets like iron, nickel and cobalt), it attracts them. This property is called attractive property of a magnet.
4. Attraction and repulsion between magnets: Like poles of a magnet repel, unlike poles of a magnet attract (north-south attract; south-south and north-north repel).
5. Directive property: A freely suspended magnet always rests in North-South Direction. This property is called directive property of a magnet.
6. Magnetic Induction: The process by which a substance like iron becomes magnetized when placed in contact or brought near to a magnet is called magnetic induction.

Sure test of a magnet

Repulsion takes place only between two like poles of a magnet, whereas attraction takes place between two unlike poles of a magnet and also between a magnet and a magnetic substance. By attraction, it cannot  be identified if the substance is a magnet or not. So, repulsion is the sure test of a magnet.

Picture credits: Google