Theory 1

It is contemplated that the discovery of magnets is accidental. Here is the story: a shepherd from ancient Greece named Magnes took his goats and sheep for grazing in the mountains.

The stick he used for controlling goats and sheep had a magnet attached to it. One day he realised that he was applying a lot of force to pull the stick from the ground, which was not usual.

He presumed that the stick was getting attracted by the mountain rocks. In fact, the rocks were acting as a natural magnet and were attracting the iron tip of the stick. That's how magnets were discovered; these rocks were later named magnetite, after the name of that shepherd.

Theory 2 

There is one more story behind the discovery of the magnets: it states that magnetite rocks were first located at a place called Magnesia—a Greek regional unit. People of Magnesia found that a few rocks have the attributes of attracting pieces of iron, and hence, they named these naturally occurring materials 'magnets'.

Difference between natural and artificial magnets:

2. Magnetic and non-magnetic materials

Magnetic substances: materials that attract natural or artificial magnets are called magnetic.

Examples: iron, cobalt, nickel.

Non-magnetic substances: materials that do not attract artificial or natural magnets towards them are called non-magnetic. 

Examples: wood, plastic, rubber, etc.

3. What is magnetic force? 

When two magnetic substances are close, they emit a force of either repulsion or attraction, similar to electrical charges. This force is called magnetic force. Because of magnetic force, magnets can attract substances. 

4. Poles of the magnets 

Magnets do not attract magnetic materials like iron equally on all surfaces. The magnet's poles are the two opposite ends that attract the magnetic substances the most. 

The two opposing poles of the magnet are called the north and south poles. It is important for you to know that the magnetic force is most powerful at the poles.

5. Properties of magnetic poles

Here are the properties of a magnetic pole: 

• The freely hanging magnet always has an aligned north-south axis.
• Opposite poles attract each other while identical poles repel each other.
• You can try this with a magnet at your home; when you get the north pole of one magnet close to the south pole of another magnet, they will attract each other.
• On the contrary, the two magnets tend to repel each other due to magnetic repulsion when you bring the same poles, i.e., north and south close to each other.
• Magnets are always bipolar, that is they have two poles. 

6. How to find directions using magnets?

You can find cardinal directions (North, South, East, West) using magnetic compasses. 

Our earth has an in-built magnet with two geographical poles: arctic (south pole) and Antarctica (north pole).  

Compass: it is a device consisting of a magnetised needle. The rotation of the needle is unrestricted. The compass's needle aligns with the magnetic field of the earth’s magnet to signify the direction. The compass needle points towards the north. 

In ancient times, travellers used bar magnets were used to find directions. When the bar is freely suspended by a thread, it always shows the north direction; try this at home. 

7. How can you make your magnet?

It is possible to create your magnet using the below-mentioned procedures:

By rubbing: You need to rub a magnet along the length of a piece of iron. By doing this, the iron will get magnetised gradually and become a magnet.

When you rub two equally powerful magnets from their opposite poles at the centre of a piece of iron, but in opposite directions, the iron will get magnetised. 

By using electric current: Do not try this at home since it can be very dangerous. You need to insert a magnetic bar between a wired coil and pass an electric current through it. As a result, the conductor coil will become magnetised. 

8. Applications of Magnet

• Compass: It is a device used for directions, as it comprises an unrestricted magnetic needle within a glass chamber and aligns with the earth's magnet to show the north direction.
• In factories and garbage heaps, magnets segregate or lift iron substances, such as scrap iron. 
• An electromagnet is also used in doorbells and chimes.
• Surgeons use permanent magnets to remove steel splinters from wounds.
• It is also used for separating non-magnetic materials from magnetic ones.
• Used in ATM cards and credit cards to store information.
• Used in television and computers to store information in hard disks.