How do magnets work?

A magnet sticks because it pulls some metal. It can grab a fridge door. It can push another magnet away. You can feel the tug.

A magnet works because it has a pull around it. That pull grabs some metals, like iron and steel. It can also push or pull another magnet. It is like pulling a toy with a string, but this string cannot be seen.

A magnet has a magnetic field, an invisible area where its force can push or pull. Inside a magnet, many tiny bits called atoms act like mini magnets and point the same way. That makes two ends, called poles. Opposite poles pull together, and matching poles push apart. Iron and steel can be pulled because their tiny magnetic bits can line up too. Fun fact: Earth acts like a giant magnet, which is why compasses point north.