Magnetism

Most everyone knows that magnets attract objects made of iron. But why do they do that? How does magnetism work? Here’s the chance to find out. Kids dive into atoms and discover why some materials are attracted to magnets while others are not. To prepare, they retrace the steps of a legendary shepherd who was the first to notice a magnetic pull at the end of his staff, as well as different ways people use natural and human made magnets to create useful devices like compasses. Kids intrigued by technology will enjoy finding out how engineers have used magnetism to design solutions to everyday problems that involve doorbells, laptops, earbuds, vending machines, and credit cards. 

Kids interested in health will discover that magnets and magnetism play important roles in medical technology like MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging) and experimental procedures aimed at killing cancer cells and bacteria. Kids who like to be “in the know,” will enjoy finding out that Earth itself is a magnet with three north poles. Those fascinated by nature will want to read about the role magnetism plays in plant growth and animal migration, not to mention the backstory of cow magnets. No dive into magnetism would be complete without a thrilling visual of the greatest light show on Earth — the northern (and southern) lights — and an exploration of why and how it happens.

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