Greek shepherd Magnes first discovered about magnets when his stick was attracted to a rock.
Those natural magnet rocks were named as magnetite.
Magnetite contains iron.
Some people believe that magnetite was first discovered at a place called Magnesia.
The substances having the property of attracting iron are now known as magnets.
The magnets discovered in nature are called natural magnets.
The magnets which are made artificially by men are called artificial magnets. Eg: Bar magnet, Horse-shoe magnet, Cylindrical magnet.
The materials which get attracted towards a magnet are magnetic materials. Eg: Nickle, Cobalt.
The materials which are not attracted towards a magnet are non-magnetic materials. Eg: Wood, Cotton.
The ends of the magnet are called poles of the magnet.
All magnets have two poles irrespective of their shape.
The magnetic strength is high on the poles.
A freely suspended bar magnet always comes to rest in North- South direction.
The end of the magnet that points towards North is called its North seeking end or the North pole of the magnet.
The other end that points towards the South is called South seeking end or the South pole of the magnet.
Like poles repel each other while unlike poles attract each other.
A compass is usually a small box with a glass cover on it. A magnetised needle is pivoted inside the box, which can rotate freely.
A compass also has dial with directions marked on it. Often North-South direction is highlighted with different colour.
Magnets lose their properties if they are heated, hammered or dropped from some height.
To keep them safe, magnets should be kept in pairs with their unlike poles on same side and separated by a piece of wood while two soft pieces of soft iron are placed across their ends.
Keep magnets away from cassettes, mobiles, television, music system, compact disks (CDs) and the computer
