Everyday Life & Technology
What can a magnet attract?
Puschel has a magnet and a surprising question about materials.
The short answer
An ordinary magnet attracts certain materials, such as iron and many steels. It does not attract wood or paper, but not every metal either. Testing is better than assuming all metal is magnetic.
An imagined Wusel scene
Puschel and Flauschi investigate
A wooden block and large iron washers lie on a mat. Puschel holds a big magnet above them. A washer follows it.
Puschel“An invisible hand?” Flauschi“A magnetic force. But it does not attract everything.”
Nothing happens to the wooden block. Puschel“It would rather stay where it is.”
Flauschi“Our magnet does not attract wood. Not every metal works either.”
They put the objects back. Puschel“Then our explorer question is: What material is this made from?”
Little Wusel quiz
Does a magnet attract every metal?
Choose one answer: a), b).
- a)No.
- b)Yes.
Show answer
Correct answer: a): No. No. Iron and many steels are attracted, but aluminium and copper, for example, are not.
What happens between two like magnetic poles?
Choose one answer: a), b).
- a)They repel.
- b)They attract.
Show answer
Correct answer: a): They repel. Like poles repel; unlike poles attract.
Explore in more detail
Here you will find longer explanations and further details. You can explore them together.
Understand step by step
How it works – simply explained
A force without touching
A magnet acts around itself; we describe this as its magnetic field. A suitable iron clip can be attracted before contact.
Material matters
Wood, paper and copper do not respond like iron to an ordinary magnet. Being metal is not enough; the kind of material matters.
Two poles belong together
Ordinary magnets have north and south poles. Opposite poles attract and matching poles repel. A magnet does not simply attract everything.
Why a coin is not a reliable magnet test
An iron or steel paper clip may stick to a suitable magnet. A coin need not, because coins can contain different metals or mixtures. Saying all metal is attracted is too broad. Material means what an object is made of. The comparison uses suitable iron pieces as examples. Small magnets and metal pieces must stay out of mouths; no experiment is required.
References for this explanation: [1]
Additional specialist reference: OpenStax / Rice University: Magnets
The key points again
Discovery 1
A magnet can attract certain materials, such as iron and many kinds of steel.
Source: [1]
Discovery 2
An ordinary magnet does not attract every metal: aluminium and copper, for example, are not attracted.
Source: [1]
Discovery 3
Magnets have two poles. Unlike poles attract and like poles repel.
Source: [1]