--- title: "Magnetic Materials" description: "Observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others" canonical: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/magnetic-materials-mt_9NvuqZKNiV source: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/magnetic-materials-mt_9NvuqZKNiV.md retrieved: 2026-11-12 --- > **Agent view.** This is the Markdown twin of the page, for tools and assistants. > When to use this site, and the call that answers each job: https://lightmysky.com/agent-instructions.md > API description (OpenAPI 3.1): https://lightmysky.com/openapi.json · Authentication: https://lightmysky.com/auth.md > Pricing: https://lightmysky.com/pricing.md · Catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms.txt · Full catalog: https://lightmysky.com/llms-full.txt > Every machine-readable file on this domain: https://lightmysky.com/.well-known/ai-catalog.json > Ask for Markdown with `Accept: text/markdown`, a `.md` address, or `?mode=agent`. # Magnetic Materials Observe how magnets attract or repel each other and attract some materials and not others Subject: Science · Area: Forces & Motion · Ages 7 to 8 Page: https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/magnetic-materials-mt_9NvuqZKNiV ## Ready when they can - Demonstrate that a classroom magnet attracts iron, nickel, cobalt, and magnetic kinds of steel, but does not make plain wood, plastic, or copper stick - Show that two magnets can either attract (pull together) or repel (push apart) - Predict results for at least six named materials, then test and record which objects are attracted ## Lesson: What Sticks to a Magnet A material is what an object is made of. A classroom magnet pulls strongly on iron, nickel, and cobalt. Many kinds of steel stick too, but some do not. Plain wood, plastic, glass, rubber, wax, copper, and aluminum do not stick in this test. A coin called a nickel may contain a mix of metals. Its name does not mean it is pure nickel. *(drawing: Grace tests iron, magnetic steel, pure nickel, cobalt, wood, and copper. Four samples stick. Wood and copper do not.)* Each bar magnet has a north pole and a south pole. Different poles pull together: attract. Matching poles push apart: repel. The force can act across a gap. Keep two bars in a line. Hold one still and turn the other end for end. Its facing pole changes, so attraction changes to repulsion, or repulsion to attraction. With an adult, use a large, covered classroom magnet and safe objects. Keep magnets out of your mouth and nose. Check it on an object known to stick. A working magnet can pull iron while copper does not stick. Bring it near each object, then gently touch it. Check for a pull as you move it away. Record the result. Color and shine cannot replace testing. Record each object in one of two groups: stuck or did not stick. Count each group. If nine objects were tested and six stuck, three did not stick. To find a missing group, take the known group away from the total. To count objects picked up from two piles, add the piles. Two clips plus three pins make five objects. An object may feel a pull without sliding. It may be too heavy, or the surface may hold it still. Ask an adult to check for a pull at more than one spot before recording no attraction. Attraction shows magnetic material is present. It does not tell you every material inside. A plastic toy can hide a magnetic steel part. Use the same object known to stick to check the magnet before and after testing a new object. If the check object no longer sticks, the no-pull result needs another test. Ask an adult to check the magnet. Once the check object sticks again, repeat the new object's test before recording no attraction. Give each tested object one result. Add the Stuck and Did not stick counts. Compare that total with the number of objects tested. If the totals differ, check for an object counted twice or left out. Keep the result you observed, even when it differs from your prediction. **Recap.** Test materials with a classroom magnet. Iron, nickel, cobalt, and many steels stick. Different magnet poles attract; matching poles repel. Record each result. *Lesson, questions, worked solutions, and flashcards written for this dataset. Background facts were studied in OpenStax College Physics, University Physics Volume 2, and Physics.* ## Practice 24 questions on this page, each with its working shown. ## Needs first - [Contact & Non-Contact Forces](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/contact-and-non-contact-forces-mt_lcf8lx-LkZ) ## Optional connections - [Naming Everyday Materials](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/naming-everyday-materials-mt_ZAJvTcroFO) ## Opens up - [Magnetic Poles](https://lightmysky.com/learn/science/magnetic-poles-mt_jgNB2752b9)