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Home/Questions/Why do magnets stick to metal?

🧲 Why do magnets stick to metal?

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Answer for children of age 0-5

Magnets are like magic! 🧲✨ They stick to some metals because they have a special power called magnetism. Not all metals stick to magnets—only ones like iron, nickel, and cobalt. Try sticking a magnet to your fridge—it works because the fridge has metal inside!

Fun fact: The Earth is like a giant magnet too! That’s why compasses always point north.

🌟 Fun fact!

Did you know? Some animals, like pigeons, can sense Earth’s magnetic field to find their way home! 🐦

💡Advice for parents

Keep it simple! Explain that magnets have an invisible force that attracts certain metals. Use fridge magnets as an example to make it fun and relatable.
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Answer for children of age 6-10

Magnets stick to certain metals because of tiny invisible forces called magnetic fields. These fields pull on metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt. The metal has tiny particles inside it that line up with the magnet’s field, making them stick together! 🧲🔗

Not all metals are magnetic—aluminum and copper won’t stick. Magnets have two ends: a north pole and a south pole. Opposite poles attract, while the same poles push away!

Fun fact: The strongest magnet in the world is in hospitals—it’s used in MRI machines to take pictures of your insides!

🌟 Fun fact!

The magnetic field around Earth protects us from harmful space radiation—like an invisible shield! 🌍✨

💡Advice for parents

Explain magnetic fields as invisible lines of force. Use fridge magnets or paper clips to demonstrate attraction. Mention poles and how they interact.
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Answer for children of age 11-15

Magnets attract certain metals due to the alignment of electron spins in atoms. Metals like iron, nickel, and cobalt have unpaired electrons that create tiny magnetic fields. When a magnet comes close, these fields align, creating a strong attraction. This is called ferromagnetism. 🧲⚛️

Other metals (e.g., aluminum) have paired electrons, so they don’t react to magnets. Magnets have dipoles (north and south poles), and their strength depends on their material—neodymium magnets are the strongest!

Fun fact: Scientists think some birds use Earth’s magnetic field to navigate during migration—like a built-in GPS!

🌟 Fun fact!

Jupiter’s magnetic field is 14 times stronger than Earth’s—it could pull a fridge from 800,000 miles away! 🪐

💡Advice for parents

Dive deeper into electron behavior and ferromagnetism. Compare different magnetic materials (e.g., neodymium vs. ceramic). Discuss real-world uses like MRI machines.