Magnets simulator

What this simulator shows

Every magnet has two ends called poles: a north pole (red here) and a south pole (blue). In Two magnets mode, the facing ends decide what happens. Flip either magnet and the pair slides together or apart, with arrows showing the push or pull. In Test materials mode, tap an object, predict whether it will stick to the magnet, and then see what happens. The six objects are an iron nail, a steel paper clip, an aluminum can, a wooden block, a plastic toy brick and a US quarter.

• Opposite poles attract: north pulls toward south.
• Like poles repel: north pushes north away, and south pushes south away.
• Magnets pull on only a few materials, mainly iron, steel, nickel and cobalt.
• Magnets can push or pull without touching. The force reaches across the gap.

Why predicting matters

Children usually already know that magnets stick to fridges, so the learning is in being surprised. Asking them to commit to a prediction first, out loud or with the Predict buttons, turns each test into a small experiment and makes the surprises stick, especially the metals that aren't magnetic.

Common misconceptions

The biggest one is that all metals are magnetic. Aluminum, copper, gold and silver are not attracted to a magnet, and neither are US coins. Steel food cans are magnetic, but aluminum soda cans are not, which is how recycling centers separate them. Some coins in other countries are made with steel, so they do stick. Another common idea is that a bigger magnet is always stronger; strength depends on the material and how it was made, not just its size. Children also sometimes think the north pole of a magnet is the one that points south, or that only the ends of a magnet attract. The poles are where the force is strongest.

A 10-minute magnets activity

• Ask the child to draw a quick table with two columns: Magnetic and Not magnetic.
• Before testing, ask them to sort the six objects into the table as a prediction.
• Test each object in the simulator and correct the table together.
• Ask: "Which results surprised you? What do the magnetic ones have in common?"
• Finish with five rounds of the Predict game for the two bar magnets.

If you have a fridge magnet at home, test real objects too. Kitchen foil, keys, spoons and coins make good test items, and stainless steel spoons are a nice surprise because some are magnetic and some are not.

Where this fits in school

• US, grade 3: NGSS 3-PS2-3 asks students to investigate magnetic interactions between objects that are not touching, and 3-PS2-4 asks them to solve a simple design problem using magnets.
• England, Year 3: pupils observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials, group materials by whether they are magnetic, learn that magnets have two poles and predict whether two magnets will attract or repel.

Learning more

Forces and magnets are part of Eurekami's science skill map. Lessons explain ideas like poles with drawings that build up step by step, and daily practice mixes in a few science questions alongside math and English.