manual

8
Magnets pull and push on each other even when they
are not touching.
N
N
S
S
Diagram of a
magnetic field
The two-color rings and the magnetic wand are all
magnets. Magnetism is an invisible force that
creates a push or a pull. Magnets do not need to
be touching for this force to occur. They can
attract each other through the air. The magnetic
disk and wand even attract each other through
the plastic of the toy car’s front bumper.
A doctor can use a magnet to remove a steel
splinter from a machinist’s eye. The magnet does
not even need to touch the eye to remove the
dangerous splinter.
The force of attraction or repulsion
between magnetic poles acts at a
distance. The region where attraction
or repulsion takes place is called the
magnetic field. That’s why you don’t
need to touch the car to make it move.