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Why does a magnet pull some things but not others?
A magnet only pulls certain metals, like iron, nickel, and cobalt, because its pulling power comes from the special way tiny particles are arranged inside them.
A magnet has an invisible field of force around it. This is called a magnetic field. This field only works on certain materials.
The atoms inside iron, nickel, and cobalt can line up in a special way. When a magnet comes close, these atoms line up with it, and this makes them stick together. That is why a nail, a paperclip, and an iron spoon stick to a magnet.
But materials like wood, plastic, glass, paper, and aluminium have atoms that cannot line up this way. That is why a magnet does not pull them. Gold and silver do not stick to a magnet either, because their atoms are not the right kind either.
So what matters is not the colour or hardness of a material, but the way its atoms are arranged.
Quick facts
- A magnet pulls iron, nickel, and cobalt.
- A magnet does not pull plastic, glass, or wood.
- A magnet does not pull aluminium, gold, or silver either.
- The pulling power comes from the special way atoms are arranged inside a material.
- Our planet also acts like a giant magnet.
Check what you remember
3 questions — all of them come from the quick facts above. There is no score and no wrong turn.
1. Which of these does a magnet pull?
2. Why does a magnet not pull some materials?
3. Which of these does a magnet not pull?
Where this comes from
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1 tr.wikipedia.org 80/100Magnet - Wikipedia
A general page explaining how a magnet works and what materials it pulls.
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