2. Protons Neutrons Electrons Review: An atom is made up of protons (+ charge) and neutrons ( 0 charge) in a core nucleus and electrons (- charge) in orbit around the nucleus. Atoms make up ALL materials.

3.  Magnets depend on the atoms they are made of.  More specifically, magnetism completely depends on the electrons in the atoms.

4.  When an electron is moving around an atom, it creates a magnetic field.  Every moving electron acts like a tiny magnet!

5.  In most objects, the electrons all spin in different directions.  This means the magnetic fields from each electron point in random directions.  This makes the fields cancel each other out, and the object is not magnetic.

6.  In some materials, the electrons all spin the same direction.  This means the magnetic fields of many electrons are aligned with each other.  This makes the object is magnetic!

7. No matter how many times we cut a magnet in half, it will ALWAYS have a north and south pole. This is because of the domains inside of the magnet. Since they all point in the same direction, there will always be a north and a south pole! (see figure 2!)

8. Similarly to electric charge, magnets will feel a push or a pull when brought into the magnetic field of another magnet. Like poles repel and and opposite poles attract:

9. Like Electric Charges. Magnets have fields around them. We draw magnetic field lines with arrows that point from the north pole to the south pole.

10.  Have you ever wondered why the needle on a compass always points north? The answer is because the earth is one giant MAGNET!!! The compass needle is a smaller magnet, and reacts with the earth’s magnetic field so that it points in the same direction.