5.1.4
Attracting & Repelling Magnets
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Attracting & Repelling Magnets
If you put two bar magnets together end to end, you will feel a force.

Attracting force
- The force may pull the magnets together.
- We say the magnets attract each other.

Repelling force
- The force may push the magnets away from each other.
- We say the magnets repel each other.

Two sides to a magnet
- Magnets have two different sides.
- The different sides are called poles.
- One pole is 'north' (N) and one pole is 'south' (S).

Magnets can repel
- If you put the same poles of two magnets together, they will repel.
- Two north (N) poles will repel each other.
- Two south (S) poles will repel each other.

Magnets can attract
- If you put the opposite poles together, they will attract.
- A north (N) and a south (S) will attract.

Magnets
- Some magnets are coloured to show which pole is which.
- Magnetism works even when something is in the way.
- Try using magnets on both sides of a piece of cardboard. You will be able to move the magnet through the cardboard.
1Year 3: Plants
2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 3: Rocks
3.1Rocks on Earth
4Year 3: Light
4.1What is Light?
5Year 3: Forces & Magnets
6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Grouping Animals
6.4Grouping Plants
6.5Classification Keys
7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans
7.1Teeth
7.2Digestion
8Year 4: States of Matter
8.1The 3 States of Matter
8.2The Water Cycle
9Year 4: Sound
9.1How Do I Hear?
9.2Pitch
10Year 4: Electricity
10.1Uses of Electricity
10.2Conductors & Insulators
10.3Making Circuits
Jump to other topics
1Year 3: Plants
2Year 3: Animals (Including Humans)
3Year 3: Rocks
3.1Rocks on Earth
4Year 3: Light
4.1What is Light?
5Year 3: Forces & Magnets
6Year 4: Living Things & Their Habitats
6.1Grouping Animals
6.4Grouping Plants
6.5Classification Keys
7Year 4: Animals, Including Humans
7.1Teeth
7.2Digestion
8Year 4: States of Matter
8.1The 3 States of Matter
8.2The Water Cycle
9Year 4: Sound
9.1How Do I Hear?
9.2Pitch
10Year 4: Electricity
10.1Uses of Electricity
10.2Conductors & Insulators
10.3Making Circuits
Practice questions on Attracting & Repelling Magnets
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1What is it called when magnets pull each other together?Multiple choice
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