Year 3 Science: Magnets attract and repel
Part of the Year 3 Science magnets chapter. Chapter overview · whole chapter on one page
Magnets attract and repel
A magnet is an object that pulls some materials towards it. A magnet can also pull another magnet towards it, or push it away.
When two magnets pull towards each other, we say that they attract. When two magnets push away from each other, we say that they repel.
Magnets can attract or repel each other across a small gap. They do not have to touch.
The table explains the words we use for magnets.
| Word | What it means |
|---|---|
| magnet | an object that attracts some materials, and can attract or repel other magnets |
| attract | pull towards each other |
| repel | push away from each other |
Key ideas
- A magnet attracts some materials, and it can attract or repel other magnets.
- Attract means to pull towards each other.
- Repel means to push away from each other.
- Magnets can attract or repel across a small gap, without touching.
Method. Think about what the magnets do.
- Read the story. The two magnets snap together, so they pull towards each other.pull together
- Name the word. Pulling towards each other is called attract.attract
- Write the answer. attract
Check. Two magnets that pull together attract. ✓
Watch out. Attract means pull together, not push apart.
Method. Think about what the magnets do.
- Read the story. The two magnets push apart from each other.push apart
- Name the word. Pushing away from each other is called repel.repel
- Write the answer. repel
Check. Repel means push away. ✓
Watch out. Repel means push apart, not pull together.
Method. Think about the direction the paper clip moves.
- Read the sentence. The paper clip moves towards the magnet, so they pull together.towards the magnet
- Name the word. Pulling towards each other is attract.attract
- Write the answer. attract
Check. The steel paper clip is attracted to the magnet. ✓
Watch out
Watch out: attract and repel are about direction. Attract means the two things pull towards each other. Repel means they push away from each other.
Try it at home or school (with a grown-up). Hold two bar magnets or two fridge magnets, with a grown-up. Bring them close, and notice whether they pull together or push apart. Keep magnets away from your mouth, away from small children, and away from phones and bank cards.
Exam tip
Grown-up tip. Ask: “Did they pull together or push apart? Did they need to touch?” Let your child use the words attract and repel.
Exercise 10A Magnets attract and repel
Method. Think about what the magnets do.
- Read the sentence. Magnets that snap together pull towards each other.pull together
- Name the word. Pulling together is called attract.attract
- Write the answer. attract
Check. Push apart would be repel. ✓
Method. Think about what the magnets do.
- Read the sentence. Magnets that push apart move away from each other.push apart
- Name the word. Pushing away from each other is called repel.repel
- Write the answer. repel
Check. Repel means push away. ✓
Method. Read the word table in section 10.1.
- Read the table. The table says that attract means pull towards each other.attract
- Write the answer. attract
Check. Attract means pull towards each other. ✓
Method. Read the word table in section 10.1.
- Read the table. The table says that repel means push away from each other.repel
- Write the answer. repel
Check. Repel means push away from each other. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 10.1.
- Read the key idea. Magnets can attract or repel across a small gap, without touching.yes
- Write the answer. yes
Check. A magnet pulls or pushes across a gap. ✓
Method. Look at the left picture.
- Read the label. The left picture is labelled Attract, and the arrows point inwards.Attract
- Name the word. Two magnets that pull together attract.attract
- Write the answer. attract
Check. The arrows point towards each other. ✓
Method. Look at the right picture.
- Read the label. The right picture is labelled Repel, and the arrows point outwards.Repel
- Name the word. Two magnets that push apart repel.repel
- Write the answer. repel
Check. The arrows point away from each other. ✓
Method. Think about the direction of the pull.
- Read the sentence. The paper clip moves towards the magnet.towards the magnet
- Name the word. Pulling towards each other is attract.attract
- Write the answer. attract
Check. A steel paper clip is attracted to a magnet. ✓
Method. Think about what repelling needs.
- Think about the magnets. To repel, one magnet must push against another magnet.two magnets
- Count them. So two magnets are needed.2
- Write the answer. 2
Check. One magnet cannot push against itself. ✓
Method. Read the key idea in section 10.1.
- Think about repel. Magnets can also repel, which pushes them apart.push apart
- Decide. So Sam is not right.no
- Write the answer. no
Check. Magnets do not always pull together. ✓
Method. Think about what you would see.
- Think about the test. You would watch whether the magnets pull together or push apart.pull together or push apart
- Write one thing. For example, watch whether they pull together.pull together
- Write the answer. Accept any one of: whether the magnets pull together; whether they push apart; whether they touch.
Check. Watch what the magnets do, and write it down. ✓
Method. Think about the two words.
- Think about attract. Attract means that two magnets pull towards each other.pull towards
- Think about repel. Repel means that two magnets push away from each other.push away
- Write the answer. Accept any sentence that says attract means pull towards each other, and repel means push away from each other.
Check. Attract and repel are opposite movements. ✓