Magnets and Magnetism - Interesting Magnet Facts for Kids

Historical Background of Magnets

    Without the use of magnetism, we can’t even imagine the existence of light and there wouldn’t be most of the technology that we see today, use today, and utilize in our daily routine. The Greeks were the first to discover magnets. There was a village named Magnesia in an ancient Greek city in Ionia (we know this stone as Magnet today because of the village of "Magnesia"), where a shepherd found a magnetic stone (Lodestone) and observed the magnetism when nails from his shoes and metal pieces in his stick got attracted to the stone. People began to believe it was a healing element.

    People used to use the stars and the sun to find their way around. But after the discovery of magnets, the Chinese were the first to use them as a tool for magnetic compasses. Magnets come in different sizes - as large as the earth and as small as the cell. Yes, you read it right. Our planet Earth is itself a big giant Magnet. The history of magnets goes back further than 600 B.C., but only scientists in the 20th century understood enough to use them in the technology that we use today.

A Magnet is made of what?

    Most permanent magnets are made of ferromagnetic materials such as iron, nickel or cobalt. Permanent magnets can also be formed out of alloys of some rare elements.

    Temporary magnets are made of soft metals such as soft iron. They become magnetized when placed in a permanent magnetic field or electric current. Physics students know well that a hysteresis loop can describe the properties of temporary magnets.

Can Magnets attract?

    A magnet is a material that produces a magnetic field which can attract other ferromagnetic materials such as iron, steel, nickel, etc.

What is Magnetic Field?

    An active region around a permanent magnet or moving electric charge where it can influence its magnetic powers is called a magnetic field. In theory, we denote it as circular lines around the magnet.

Some Interesting Magnets

    Then there’s another form of magnetism: bio-magnetism. The other inhabitants of planet Earth know where they are moving, but how? Bio-magnetism is the answer to this interesting question. We know that dolphins can navigate based on magnetism. Similarly, pigeons also use their magnetic sense to navigate. During an experiment, scientists placed a piece of magnet on a pigeon's head. The pigeons, which normally return to their home, became disoriented and went missing.

Is the Earth a Magnet?

    Earth’s magnetic field protects us from cosmic radiation. The Sun emits radiation that comes towards the earth’s surface. If this radiation reaches the earth's surface, it has the potential to cause cancer in humans. But Earth’s magnetic field prevents this radiation from reaching the surface. Here we see another interesting phenomenon. As all know, the earth’s magnetic field dives in at the north and south poles where this radiation comes near to the surface of the earth and collides with gases present in the earth’s atmosphere. These interactions cause flashes in large numbers, which further produce auroras.

Can Magnet attract Gold

    Pure gold is a diamagnetic material and it can’t be attracted to a magnet. Certain alloys of gold may only stick to a magnet. If we replace nearly or more than 20% of gold atoms with iron, then we may see gold attracted to a magnet.

Can Magnet Stop Electric Meter      

    In old meters, magnets were used by fraudsters to put near the spinning disc to reduce the speed of the disc, causing a reduction in electric bills. But with evolving technology in electric meters, magnets are now useless for this purpose.

Magnetism and Humans

    There’s a term called "magnetism" in human psychology. On the one hand, we call a person attractive when we find him likeable. On the other hand, we call someone repulsive when we don’t like him. We differentiate between them by saying, "Those two people are poles apart."

Crucks and interesting facts about Magnets and Magnetism

Every magnet has two poles, one north and one south.

All metals are not magnetic.

Our planet is a massive magnet, and compasses work in its magnetic field.

Same-pole magnets push away from each other, whereas opposite poles attract each other.

Bees also use magnetic fields for their movements.