Magnetic Fields and Field Lines
Ever wondered how to actually see the invisible forces around a magnet? Magnetic fields are the areas around magnets where forces can be felt, and there are two brilliant ways to visualise them.
The compass method is dead simple but effective. Place a compass next to the North pole, mark where the needle points, then move the compass so its tail touches your mark. Keep repeating this process until you reach the South pole, then connect all your dots with arrows pointing from North to South.
Alternatively, the iron filings method gives you an instant picture. Just cover your magnet with paper, sprinkle iron filings on top, and watch them magically line up to show the magnetic field pattern from North to South.
Quick Tip: Iron filings are brilliant for seeing the whole field pattern at once, whilst compasses help you trace individual field lines step by step.
