Magnets

“Lodestone”

Magnesia

The oldest known writing about

lodestones was by Thales of Miletus in
about 600 BC.
 THE LETTER OF
PETRUS
PEREGRINUS
ON THE MAGNET, A.D. 1269

In 1269 A.D., a French scientist named Petrus Peregrinus de

Maricourt wrote a letter that describes the properties of lodestones
(or magnets) which he had discovered during his experiments. 
What properties of
magnets can YOU
discover by doing
your own
experiments?
 Recording Results of your Experiments

“It works” or “It Doesn't Work”

The light bulb lights when the aluminum wire is used in the circuit.
The light bulb does not light when the plastic wire is used in the circuit.
The light bulb does not light when the string is used in the circuit.

OR

Type of Wire The bulb lights The bulb does NOT light

Copper x  

Aluminum x  

Plastic   x

String   x
 Let’s compare your
observations to what
Petrus Peregrinus
wrote about magnets
nearly 750 years ago.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A GOOD LODESTONE

Magnets attract things made of iron.

photo credit: R.Weller/Cochise College

 HOW TO DISTINGUISH THE POLES OF A
LODESTONE

There are two points on opposite sides of the magnet

called “poles”.
•Bits of iron are attracted most strongly at these points.
•A small piece of iron shaped like a needle will stand straight
up at these two points.
HOW TO TELL WHICH IS NORTH AND WHICH
SOUTH

When a magnet is free to move, the north pole

of the magnet will turn around until its north
pole is pointing north.
 HOW ONE LODESTONE ATTRACTS
ANOTHER
The north pole of one magnet attracts the south
pole of another, and the south pole attracts the
north.
N S N S

Two north poles or two south poles repel each

other.
S N N S

N S S N
 HOW IRON TOUCHED BY A LODESTONE
TURNS TOWARDS THE POLES OF THE
WORLD

A magnet touching a piece of iron can turn the

iron into a temporary magnet.
WHY THE NORTH POLE OF ONE LODESTONE
ATTRACTS THE SOUTH POLE OF ANOTHER
AND VICE VERSA

N S

When a magnet is cut into smaller pieces, . . .

WHY THE NORTH POLE OF ONE LODESTONE
ATTRACTS THE SOUTH POLE OF ANOTHER
AND VICE VERSA

N S N S

When a magnet is cut into smaller pieces, each

smaller piece has both a north and south pole.
 Summary – Properties of Magnets
• Magnets attract iron (also nickel and cobalt).

• There are two points on opposite sides of the magnet called “poles”,
where metals are attracted most strongly.

• When a magnet is free to move, the north pole will turn to point north.

• Opposite poles attract, like poles repel

• A magnet touching a piece of iron can turn it into a temporary magnet.

• When a magnet is cut into smaller pieces, each smaller piece has both a
North & South pole.
Do magnets need to touch a piece of
iron or another magnet to exert a
magnetic force on the iron or other
magnet?
 There is a disturbance in the
space around a magnet called a
magnetic field.