How do magnets work, and what causes magnetic fields?

Magnets have special powers that let them pull or push things made of metal, like a fridge door or a toy car.

Imagine you're playing with two little friends who love to dance together, but they also love to argue. When they’re happy, they move in the same direction; when they’re upset, they move opposite ways. These friends are tiny particles inside the magnet called spins, and their dancing or arguing is what creates a magnetic field.

Inside every magnet, there are tiny bits called atoms, like super small building blocks. Some of these atoms have little spinners that spin in the same direction, making them team up and create a strong pull. That's why one end of the magnet can pull a paperclip toward it.

When those tiny spinners are all spinning together, they make something called a magnetic field, which is like an invisible hand that can push or pull things from far away, just like how your friend can wave and make you move even if you're not touching them!